In the early 1990s, a researcher at Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology began working on what would become Paro. More than 30 years after its development, the doe-eyed seal pup remains the best-known example of a therapy robot for older adults. In 2011, the robot reached the zenith of pop culture an informal appearance on “The Simpsons.”
Japan has had its market for robotics age locked down for decades, due to both its eager embrace of new technology and its aging population. Twenty-nine percent of the country’s population is 65 years or older. The increase in life expectancy is, of course, a net positive, but it can also lead to corrosion in the supporting structure. For decades, robots have long been used as a way to fill human gaps in the caregiving market and help the elderly feel less alone.
While the United States’ numbers aren’t as stark, the country is getting older. There are currently 62 million Americans age 65 and older, representing 18% of the total population. According to Pew Research, this number is expected to rise to 84 millionor 23% of the population, by 2054.
While the US is older like Japan, the US has not embraced similar technologies as easily. For several years, the New York State Office on the Aging (NYSOFA) has worked to reverse this. As of 2018, the department has distributed more than 31,500 robot pets to older New Yorkers. Associate director Greg Olsen says the program was inspired by his then eight-year-old daughter, who bought a robotic pet from Amazon.
“When I got home and saw it, I was like, ‘That would be amazing to try,'” he said on a Zoom call with TechCrunch. Olsen joined the call from his office, in front of a row of large metal drawers. Dozens of boxes of robot pets rest on the shelves, presenting three different options: a retriever-like dog, a cat, and red and blue birds.
All three are produced by Eternal Innovations. Founded in 2015 as a Hasbro spinoff, the company specializes in the production of robotic pets for the aging population through the Joy for All brand. The cat debuted late that year and the dog arrived in 2016. Both models share DNA with their Hasbro-designed counterparts, property FurReal Friends.
The bird is the newest addition to the series. Officially named ‘Walker Squawker’, the small robot is attached to assistive walking devices. Like dogs and cats, little Squawkers respond to light and touch. They will also start singing when they perceive that movement has stopped in an attempt to get their owners to use their walking aid. Olsen notes, however, that the retriever remains the most popular of the bunch, making up about 60% of total requests.
The same year NYSOFA began piloting the use of these robots with elderly New Yorkers, Olsen notes, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said loneliness “is associated with reduced lifespan similar to that caused by smoking 15 cigarettes a day and even greater than that associated with obesity.” Along with physical concerns, isolation can accelerate cognitive decline in older people. The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly exacerbated the issue. Recently, Murthy declared loneliness an epidemic in itself.
Research has shown that pet ownership is an effective method of combating loneliness in older adults. “Pet owners were 36% less likely from non-pet owners to report loneliness, in a model controlling for age, living status (ie, alone vs. not alone), happy mood, and seasonal residence,” according to one study.
For a variety of reasons, however, pet ownership is not always a viable option for older adults. That’s where the robots come in. Given the recent nature of the phenomenon, research into robotic pets is significantly more limited. Studies, however, have pointed to potential benefits, particularly in situations where interaction with humans and animals is limited for health-related reasons.
“Companion pets improved depression and loneliness without risks associated with pharmacological interventions,” notes a 2022 study on robotic pets. “Participants engaged with their companion pet, providing meaningful activity and positive experiences, especially when the COVID-19 restrictions were at their worst, with participants quarantined and family visits limited.”
The study goes on to add that human interaction is still key: “Most importantly, conversations between participants, family, and professional caregivers enhanced the therapeutic environment.”
While robot pets have shown promise in combating loneliness, they are not a cure in and of themselves. Olsen notes that the robotic pet program is one of 21 different partnerships NYSOFA has with technology companies, including one with Intuition Robotics, which produces ElliQ. The department has distributed nearly 900 of the social networking bots, which help users connect and track their loved ones. NYSOFA also provides other services to older adults, including transportation and phone lines.
The six-year-old pet robot program has been an effective tool for the organization, according to Olsen. He cites a number of stories of customers stuck with their pets, including one woman who told NYSOFA they would have to “take that cat off my dead hands.” Another, according to Olsen, asked to be buried with his robot. Mourners at his service were initially confused when a muffled bark emerged from within the casket.
