Paro

Date: 21.10.13
Time: 12:00
Location: Greenwich Woods Nursing Home

The summer before my sophomore year, I spent some time volunteering at Greenwich Woods, a nursing home.  This was a great experience and I very much enjoyed my time there, however you might be wondering how this experience would make its way into a Science blog.  This nursing home is special.  It uses a revolutionary robotic treatment device, a baby harp seal named Paro, in the treatment of Alzheimer's patients.  Developed by Takanori Shibata from Japan, Paro is designed to simulate a real baby seal, with heated synthetic fur and sensors that react to touch and sound, causing the robot to move and make sounds.  The lifelike movements of the seal calm the patients while also engaging them.

Paro
When I first volunteered at the nursing home, I worked for two weeks on the entertainment committee.  We played lots of games and I connected with many of the residents.  This Parents Weekend, I decided to revisit the nursing home to see residents interact with Paro again.  I wanted to observe some of the progress residents who were using Paro had made.

Presentation given by Greenwich
Woods on Paro
While there I went to the Dementia Wing with Paro to watch people interact with him.  I brought him into a room with two women, one of whom was the personal assistant to Mr. Nestle when he first came to America.  Yes, that's Nestle like the food processing company!  When they first got Paro into their hands, they wondered what he was.  Many residents thought he was a small dog, and one thought he was an alien.  However as soon as he reacted to their petting and coos, their eyes lit up and they became enthralled in his every move.  They were overjoyed, proud of their ability to make the creature react while also fascinated with the lifelike motions.  This type of interaction and engagement is great for the treatment of illness like Alzheimer's where patients can become removed.  Greenwich Woods has seen great improvement in residents that used Paro as part of their therapy.


A resident in the Dementia
Ward working with Paro
This visit was a great way for me to learn how robotics can make a difference in a different capacity.  Usually robots with medical uses are for surgery, so their function in a therapeutic capacity is fascinating.  It shows me another way in which engineering is able to help others while bettering the community.  Being able to tie in my love for robotics into volunteer work like this was great, as I really had an interest in the work I was doing.  I hope to return again to visit the friends I have made, and Paro too!

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