I'm on the verge of getting my mom a weighted cat plushy. From what I've seen, the "robotic" pets are stiff, but the weighted ones I've seen on Etsy are far more cuddly. Plus, I've head it can upset the patient if the battery dies and the "breathing" stops before someone can sneak a new one in.
My Dad was not capable of operating a TV remote or even turning on music on his iPod. I think a robotic pet would have totally defeated his ability to learn to deal with it.
honestly, it would have turned into yet another bone of contention. Whenever he could not figure out how to do something (with any technology) in his mind it was because I did something to it ... example.....he accused me of turning off the phone so he couldn’t use it. Well, after checking it out...he had put the TV remote on the cradle for the phone. So..he kept trying to answer the phone ... but, with the remote control still holding down the receiver lever on the cradle..the phone kept ringing. And..this was my fault.
anyway, I would never get a dementia patient a device that required them to learn anything new...including something as simple as turning it on and off.
There is nothing for the patient to "learn" with these toys. They aren't turned off. If you get the type that "breathes" someone needs to replace the battery one a month or so, is all.
We gave my father a lifelike sleeping kitty which looks just like one of ours that he is fond of. It uses one battery and 'breaths' as it lays in its bed. It can be taken out if the bed and it's fur is so soft. He likes it very much and has fun showing it to people for the first time. He gets a chuckle any time someone mistakes it for a real cat.
honestly, it would have turned into yet another bone of contention. Whenever he could not figure out how to do something (with any technology) in his mind it was because I did something to it ... example.....he accused me of turning off the phone so he couldn’t use it. Well, after checking it out...he had put the TV remote on the cradle for the phone. So..he kept trying to answer the phone ... but, with the remote control still holding down the receiver lever on the cradle..the phone kept ringing. And..this was my fault.
anyway, I would never get a dementia patient a device that required them to learn anything new...including something as simple as turning it on and off.