PRODUCT STAR RATING (out of 5 stars): 4 out of 5 stars
"Simply a brilliant de-stressor ‘toy’. Lots of laughs and engaging moments. Not too noisy, but rather soothing in sound and feel."
I am always a little sceptical about ‘toys’ for people living with dementia. To me, it feels like we are being treated like children again. I want to put that out there from the beginning.
The Companion Pets can be any breed of dog or cat. So, whether you are a dog or a cat person, you are covered.
The feel is like a cuddly teddy. Its likeness is pretty accurate to the breed.
At the bottom of, in my case, the dog, you will find where the batteries go. The Companion Pets take either 4 x ‘C’ type or ‘LR14’ batteries, accessible with a screwdriver, and the red on/mute/off switch.
This means you can have the dog or cat on with movements but with no noise. This is good for those sensitive hearing moments.
The companion Pet is sensitive to sound, so as you speak or make a noise, such as a whistle, the Pet will turn and face you with a bark or a pant. The noise the Pets make is not loud or piercing as a real dog might be. It is actually soothing and funny. Yes, I said that. I did make me smile and laugh. Bring my stress levels down over time.
You can stroke its head, back, or belly, and it will purr or pant as a real dog or cat would. It is light enough to carry or have on your lap to engage with or relax and stroke whilst you watch TV.
Despite my scepticism, if you are a pet person, then this is for you. Like I say, it reduced my stress levels when anxious, giving my hands something to do that was relaxing.
I took it to a care home near me to see how older people would enjoy it. The laughter and attention it got were great to see. Everyone was interacting with the dog. As they spoke, the dog would turn and bark to acknowledge their voice; they really enjoyed that. Bringing some out of their shell. Those with communication symptoms engaged in their own way as well.
A brilliant de-stressor for those agitated or anxious moments. Every care home lounge should have one.
The Companion Pets have certainly made me rethink my scepticism; not all dementia ‘toys’ are childish. Some, like the Companion Pets, are useful.
Add comment
Comments