Seal of Distinction: Nursing Homes Give Robot Seals to Alzheimer's Patients

Here’s a different type of pet: A handful of U.S. nursing homes have begun using baby harp seal robots to provide companionship for Alzheimer’s and dementia patients.

Made in Japan by Intelligent Systems Co. and distributed in the United States by Paro Robots U.S., cuddly “Paro” the seal is filled with hardware and software that enable it to move and make lifelike sounds. It contains a rechargeable nickel battery and costs about $6,000.

"In the case of many elderly people with dementia, they seem to switch on when they interact with Paro,” says Intelligent Systems engineer Takanori Shibata.