A new robotic baby invention called a Babyloid was recently developed in Japan to "interact" with nursing home residents. The goal is to help alleviate depression in nursing home residents, perhaps by providing something for them to care for and nurture.
Babyloid has a simplistic, non-realistic face and responds to being rocked or held using sensors that turn his cheeks red when he's happy and blue when he's sad. Babyloid might even fall asleep if it's being rocked or cry LED tears if upset. More than 100 different sounds are programmed in Babyloid. The inventor, Masayoshi Kanoh, apparently recorded his youngest child's baby sounds and used them in developing Babyloid.
Preliminary research was conducted at a nursing home, concluding that residents who held and interacted with Babyloid for eight minute intervals for a total of 90 minutes a day experienced a reduction in their symptoms of depression. The estimated price for Babyloid is $1300 USD.
You can see pictures of the Babyloid here.
I've recommended before that baby dolls be used to provide comfort for people who have Alzheimer's or another kind of dementia. They can also be beneficial when offered as something to hold on to while care is being provided, especially if your loved one has some behavioral challenges.
I'm all for reducing the loneliness and depression that is sometimes present for older adults in facilities, but I'm not quite ready to jump on this bandwagon yet. There's certainly something important about providing people with the chance to be a caregiver and have meaningful activity, but it feels almost like they're trying to replace human interaction and affection with science fiction-like inventions. How about we take the time to hold someone's hand, to bring our cat or dog (with facility permission) to visit the pet-lovers, or bring our children to visit our older loved ones?
What do you think?
yes, I think human interaction gives more comfort and is more important. It certainly made a difference with my sister who passed away from Alzheimer’s last year.
Not all memory lost is due to dementia and or alzheimers. There are other reasons … but no one mention them. Like due to medications or… other causes. It will be nice some one write or say something about other causes. Thank you.
Hi Celia,
You’re so right. Here are a few articles on other causes of memory loss:
Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus
Is It Alzheimer’s Disease or Vitamin B12 Deficiency?
Causes of Short-Term Memory Loss
Thanks for pointing this out!
I my thoughts …..I call it lack of useful and creative brain activity. as the brain ages with the person it processes billions of info when its not called on to produce useful youth activity it becomes lazy,person depresses,and they tend to forget more often, a child never seems to forget anything esp things it wants, or expresses needs. instead of nursing homes families lived together right down to the end. and they were useful and felt wanted. The idea is keeping the brain busy. and keep it healthy with proper nourishment brain foods,supplements because our earth is lacking the right kind of care so we suffer too. you can reply or comment at pboozer440@comncast.net Thanks Take care Pat
Over 400 dolls have been sent to people with Alzheimer’s. There are currently 85 care facilities that use my dolls. They work so well that it is not unusual to have a doll sent back when their loved one passes away so the doll will continue to bring peace. As much as we love them we can’t be present all the time and it is at these times their “baby” will cuddle up with them and they know they aren’t leaving. Most people with Alzheimer’s has depression and live in the past. The doll is real to them and should be treated with respect. Comments “My mother cried all the time, said her baby was locked in the closet and since she has her doll she doesn’t cry anymore” It is a terrible idea to have a faceless doll. It is the face they talk to and love. I match skin tone, hair color and eye color of the persons babies. They encourage interaction between the residents or family members. If you view my website you will see women with their babies and comments from families.