Buying the PARO therapeutic seal

PARO is a robotic baby harp seal made in Japan by Intelligent System Co., based on research at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST). It is cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration as a Class II medical device and has five types of sensor, so it reacts when a person strokes it, holds it or talks to it.

Who buys PARO in Australia

• Specialist dementia care units and memory support wings in residential aged care.
• Hospital wards caring for older patients living with dementia.
• Palliative care units and hospices.
• Hospital foundations and charities buying equipment for a ward.

Bolton Clarke introduced PARO at its Farnorha community in Cairns in 2018, one of the earlier Australian users.

Price and how it is sold

PARO is listed in Australia from $6,500 per unit on an independent aged care robotics directory. It is not an off-the-shelf item. Australian distributors quote each facility, and that quote sets the final price, freight, warranty and service terms. The PARO price guide explains what moves the figure.

At that price most sites buy one unit for a unit or wing. Staff bring it to residents or patients in planned sessions, and it stays with staff between sessions.

What to ask the distributor

• Price per unit at your quantity, with GST and freight shown separately.
• Warranty length, how a faulty unit is repaired and how long a repair takes.
• What comes in the box, including the charger and manuals.
• The maker’s written cleaning instructions, for your infection control lead to review.
• Whether a loan or trial unit is available before purchase.

How an enquiry works

Send the facility type, the number of units and whether you want to buy, lease or trial. Therapy Robots Australia passes the enquiry to a distributor, who quotes you directly. We are an enquiry service run by Yes Right Pty Ltd. We do not sell PARO or hold stock.

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