Pleasant View is changing the culture for dementia and residential care by introducing an innovative treatment option – a Paro Therapeutic Robot.

PARO is an advanced interactive robot that looks like a sweet, adorable seal cub.  The seal has proven to provide the same documented benefits as animal therapy but reduces anxieties, apprehensions and allergies surrounding real, live animals.

The therapeutic seal has five types of sensors that make it as loving as a real animal: tactile, light, audition, temperature, and posture sensors. The seal can perceive people and its environment, recognize light and dark, feel touch, and also recognize sound, words and praise.  It can learn to behave in a way that the user prefers.

The robotic seal has proven to improve brain function in patients with cognition disorders, reduce stress and anxiety, and fulfills a human need for companionship.

Pleasant View is introducing the therapeutic seal to its line of innovative care options on a trial basis.  By nature, many of us, particularly memory support residents, have a need to nurture.  It has been proven that pets have a calming effect on us and fulfill our need to nurture; however, live animals aren’t for everyone and they come with serious responsibility. The seal is a wonderful option for residents who can’t manage the day-to-day expense or responsibilities of a live pet, or who have personal aversions to live animals.

PARO is one more example of how Pleasant View continuously adopts new approaches to helping residents achieve vibrant, grace-filled living.