The Senior Uses Pet Robots for Dementia Patients

MGR Online•General•19d ago

Reader Briefing

The Senior center enhances dementia care by integrating pet robots into therapy programs to improve elderly patients' emotional well-being.

•The Senior, a long-term care and rehabilitation center, is implementing new technologies for elderly care, particularly for dementia patients.
•Pet robots are being used as a non-pharmacological therapy to supplement care, offering comfort and interaction without the limitations of real pets.
•The initiative aims to improve the emotional and behavioral aspects of dementia care, focusing on the 'heart' rather than directly treating the disease.
•This approach is part of a multidisciplinary care model at The Senior, which aims to balance the physical and emotional needs of the elderly.

Overview

•The Senior, established over 30 years ago by Dr. Chalermchart Wannaphruk, is a comprehensive care center for the elderly and rehabilitation.
•The center specializes in care for dementia patients, bedridden individuals, stroke patients, and dependent elderly, with over 200 beds in Bangkok.
•Dr. Kritt Wannaphruk emphasizes that dementia care requires multidisciplinary approach beyond medication, integrating medical treatment, rehabilitation, cognitive stimulation, and emotional support.
•Dementia patients often experience behavioral and emotional symptoms (BPSD) like agitation, aggression, and depression, particularly during 'Sundown Syndrome'.
•Non-pharmacological methods like Pet Therapy and Doll Therapy are recommended first due to potential side effects of psychiatric medication in the elderly.
•The Senior is piloting the use of pet robots, which emulate the comfort of real pets while mitigating issues of allergies, hygiene, and safety concerns.
•Initial observations show pet robots improve elderly patient interaction, communication, emotional responsiveness, and can lead to increased calmness for some.
•Dr. Kritt Wannaphruk states that pet robots are a safe, low-side effect complementary tool, not a primary treatment, that can benefit certain patient groups when used with expert multidisciplinary care.

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Key Quotes

Dr. Kritt Wannaphruk

"Pet robots are likely not the primary treatment tool, but another helper with high safety, low side effects, and may benefit some patient groups when used with appropriate care from a multidisciplinary team."

หุ่นยนต์สัตว์เลี้ยงคงไม่ใช่เครื่องมือรักษาหลัก แต่เป็นอีกหนึ่งตัวช่วยที่มีความปลอดภัยสูง ผลข้างเคียงต่ำ และอาจสร้างประโยชน์ให้กับผู้ป่วยบางกลุ่มได้ เมื่อใช้ร่วมกับการดูแลที่เหมาะสมจากทีมสหวิชาชีพ

Dr. Kritt Wannaphruk

"Dementia sometimes affects the emotions, behavior, communication, and quality of life of patients and families. Care must be holistic. Whatever can safely help patients, we should consider implementing together."

ภาวะสมองเสื่อมบางครั้งส่งผลต่ออารมณ์ พฤติกรรม การสื่อสาร และคุณภาพชีวิตของผู้ป่วยและครอบครัว การดูแลจึงต้องมองแบบองค์รวม อะไรที่ช่วยผู้ป่วยได้อย่างปลอดภัย เราก็ควรพิจารณานำมาใช้ร่วมกัน

Key Entities

Organization

The Senior(เดอะซีเนียร์)

A long-term care and rehabilitation center in Bangkok, Thailand, specializing in elderly care and dementia treatment.

Person

Col. Dr. Chalermchart Wannaphruk(พ.อ.นพ.เฉลิมชาติ วรรณพฤกษ์)

The founder of The Senior, with over 30 years of experience in elderly care and rehabilitation.

Dr. Kritt Wannaphruk(นพ.กฤต วรรณพฤกษ์)

An internal physician at The Senior who explains the benefits and applications of pet robots in dementia care.