When Margaret’s husband Lawrie entered long-term care, it was a tough transition for both of them. Lawrie was agitated and confused about his new surroundings. Margaret felt immense guilt that, due to his advancing dementia, she could no longer safely care for him at home. She was worried he might never adjust to long-term care.
Through the Cowichan Valley Caregivers Support Society, Margaret was introduced to the idea of a robotic companion pet for her husband, provided by Eldercare Foundation. She was hesitant, and wanted to be careful about the introduction, saying “Lawrie had dogs at home, and he was a very practical man and would know that this was a toy dog.”
But she didn’t have to worry.
“From the first introduction…I think it was something comforting for him. And from the time he had it on his lap, it became his dog.”
Linda Dirksen Gale, Executive Director of the Cowichan Family Caregivers Support Society, helped to pilot the robotic companion pet program in the Cowichan Valley. “A passionate volunteer brought this to us, and with Eldercare Foundation’s help we began a pilot program to provide the companion pets through our Caregiver programs and to veterans.”
While Margaret was initially hesitant about getting a robotic pet for her husband, it worked better than she could have imagined.
“We just kept seeing over and over again this powerful journey that people would go on with these pets. Like Margaret’s story, from being unsure, to her coming to a support group stunned at how beautifully Lawrie had responded to the to the companion pet,” says Linda. “We knew that the research showed really good outcomes for people with a dementia, but it has consistently and profoundly surprised me what an impact it had on families.”
A robotic companion pet provided by donations to Eldercare Foundation helped Lawrie begin to settle in and find new meaning in caring for his pet. Margaret found peace of mind when she saw her husband adjust to his new home.
All thanks to a small, responsive pet that provided Lawrie, and Margaret, with just what they needed.
See Margaret’s story in the video below.