Robotic animals helping seniors with dementia through Niagara College research initiative
Niagara College is expanding its applied research into dementia care through a project exploring the therapeutic impact of robotic animals in long-term care settings.
The College’s “Fins, Feathers and Fur” initiative, led through its new Healthy Aging and Wellness Innovation Centre (HAWIC), is focused on helping staff in long-term care homes use robotic companion animals more effectively to engage residents living with dementia.
Research Lead Christine Wilkinson, a longtime Recreation Therapy Professor at Niagara College, began studying robotic animals two years ago after seeing firsthand how the devices could benefit seniors. The College purchased its first robotic seal in 2018 for use in the Recreation Therapy program. While the devices already had a reputation for providing therapeutic support, Wilkinson noticed many care staff lacked guidance on how to integrate them into meaningful programming.
