Therapy robots for dementia units
PARO and companion robots for specialist dementia care units and memory support wings: how units plan sessions and fit them into care plans.
Specialist dementia care units and memory support wings care for people whose dementia brings more distress or agitation than a general home is set up to manage. A therapy robot is one of the non-drug options these teams use.
Why units choose PARO
- It reacts to touch and voice through five types of sensor, which suits one-to-one sessions with residents who no longer join group activities.
- Its research base includes an Australian randomised trial in 28 Queensland facilities.
- One unit can be shared across a wing in planned sessions.
Fitting it into care plans
The strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards commenced with the Aged Care Act 2024 on 1 November 2025. Outcome 5.6 asks providers to give person-centred care to people living with dementia, and Standard 7 covers meaningful activities. Restrictive practices are a last resort, used only after alternative strategies have been tried and documented in a behaviour support plan. A therapy robot can be one of those alternative strategies. Buying one does not make a provider compliant.
Dementia Support Australia, the Government-funded behaviour support service run by HammondCare, suggests simulated pets for people with moderate to severe dementia who are socially isolated, have reduced communication, or show apathy or agitation. It recommends using them alongside other strategies.
Planning sessions
| Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Who runs the sessions? | Lifestyle, diversional therapy or nursing staff need time set aside |
| Which residents first? | Start with those the guidance describes and watch each response |
| How often? | The Queensland trial used 15 minute sessions three times a week |
| Where is it kept and charged? | A shared unit left flat or in the wrong room does not get used |
A robot that upsets someone should be taken away and the response noted.
Scaling across sites
Providers with several units often start with one PARO, record results for a few months, then ask for a quote on more. Some providers choose lower-cost companion pets for general wings instead: Carinity put robotic cats and dogs into all 12 of its homes. The value comparison sets out the trade-off.