Heartbeat: Robot has seal of approval from chief nurse
February 20, 2019
Meet PARO – the furry robotic seal that will be used as a therapeutic intervention for people with dementia and learning disabilities on our wards.
The fluffy robot uses artificial intelligence (AI) technology to learn from its surroundings and responds to its name. It likes to be petted and even wags its tail afterwards to show appreciation. The seal contains sensors that allow it to perceive what is happening in its surroundings, to recognise light and to know where a voice is coming from. It looks at the person talking to it and makes whining noises.
The robot has been in use since 2003 in more than 30 countries, including Japan, Denmark and the United States and research has shown that the seal lessens stress and anxiety, promotes social interaction, facilitates emotional expression, and improves mood and speech fluency.
Paula Gardner, Chief Nurse, said: “The seals were used at a previous organisation I worked at and I thought they were brilliant, hence why I was keen on introducing them here.
“We regularly hold pet therapy sessions which demonstrate that interaction with real animals improves the mood of our patients and motivates them. “The sessions with Pets as Therapy are held on a weekly basis in a day room on Newton 4 ward and are very popular. However, the PARO seals can be taken to the bedside of our patients which takes away any issues regarding infection control.”
Tests carried out have found that the seal can be safely used. The robot was used over a nine month period on a 10-bed dementia ward, where hygiene and cleaning tests were carried out.
Lead researcher, Dr Penny Dodds said: “We have demonstrated that, under controlled conditions, PARO was safe within the hospital setting for an acute care dementia unit.”
PARO was invented by Professor Takanori Shibata from Japan. He has previously said of his creation: “I set out to find a way to use technology as an alternative drug-free therapy to ease the suffering of patients with dementia.
“The health challenges faced by older people are enormous and growing but technology is changing just as quickly. We’ve proved that this is possible, and that AI has huge potential for the future.”
To find out more about the PARO Seal and how it can be used on your ward, contact Stephen.keates@nhs.net.