PSS Marketing and Communications Manager Shelley Erskine, Peacehaven Hospital and Rest Home Manager Lynda Cammell and Iona Team Leader Julie Worner with PARO, a robotic baby seal that Enliven Southland has recently purchased  by PSS

Robotic Baby Seal Making Friends at Iona

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A robotic baby seal could have a life changing impact for Iona residents.

Enliven is now the proud owner of PARO – an interactive and therapeutic robot that mimics a real baby seal – and he has already made an impression on residents at Iona, the dementia care wing at Peacehaven Village.

Studies have proven that interaction with PARO has psychological benefits for residents with dementia. In some cases, sessions with the seal have prompted non-verbal elderly dementia patients to start talking after years of little to no communication, and in others the calming effect of the seal has reduced the need for medication.

Iona Team Leader Julie Worner has already witnessed the impact of the seal, which is highly responsive to human senses, and is excited about its potential.

“We have tried PARO with three residents so far; all with very positive reactions,” she said.
“One lady doesn’t really talk, but as soon as we placed the seal on her lap she started to stroke him and talk, talk, talk. Another lady is usually quite reserved and sits with her hands closed on her lap, but when we put the seal on her she was moving her hands, stroking him, smiling and looking at him.”
“The third lady doesn’t suffer fools, so I thought she would either love him or hate him. At first she wasn’t too impressed, but after a couple of minutes and eyelash flicks from PARO she had to admit he was “pretty cute – but don’t tell anyone!”

Julie says the idea, while simple, could have huge and positive implications for residents, their families and care workers; particularly with its potential to unlock speech in residents who do not speak, to calm residents who may be anxious or scared and to open the way for a more interactive relationship between residents and care workers.

The purchase of PARO was made possible thanks to funding from WD Bickley and the Stewart Family Trusts; to which Enliven staff are hugely grateful.

With PARO proving successful, we are also interested in getting more, particularly for Resthaven in Gore. If anyone is interested in providing financial support towards PARO, please call Shelley on 03 211 8200.