They’re not about to replace real-life therapy dogs, but research shows that motorized mutts can benefit people struggling with loneliness or dementia.

As seniors find themselves cut off from loved ones during the pandemic, some are turning to automated animals for company.

When Linda Spangler asked her mother, in a video chat, what she would like as a gift for her 92nd birthday, the response came promptly.

For some, limiting the spread of coronavirus has meant long periods of isolation. And for older adults — who are among the most vulnerable to the illness — that social distancing has come at a particular cost.

The Alabama Department of Senior Services has been working on ways to comfort the state’s elderly who remain isolated in closed-off senior centers.
One of those projects is a statewide robotic pet program that pairs isolated seniors with a robotic cat or dog. The programmed pooches and kitties are meant to help them combat loneliness.