Caring for a Person Living with Dementia Who Owns a Robotic Pet V.1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Caring for a Person Living with Dementia (PLWD) Who Owns a Robotic Pet: Formal and Informal Carers Experience.
IRAS ID
367388
Contact name
Robin (Robb) Hunt
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Teesside University
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 7 months, 10 days
Research summary
I am currently running a study exploring formal and informal carer’s experiences of caring for a Person Living with Dementia (PLWD) who owns a robotic pet, looking at if and how robotic pets may be impacting on caring experiences.
A process such as “living with dementia” is not solely located within the accounts of those with the diagnosis. The phenomenon is also located within the accounts of other people who belong to the “lived world” of the person with the diagnosis (Larkin, Shaw & Flowers, 2018), therefore it is important to explore carer’s experiences in research as it is likely that wellbeing in people living with dementia is intrinsically linked to wellbeing in carers.
This study touches upon concerns about a lack of research into the longer-term use and effectiveness of robotic pets, and further, how this longer-term use, permanent availability or ownership, impacts on the experiences of caring for a PLWD providing implications for how people living with dementia and their carers may be better supported.
The study looks to explore experiences of caring for those who have experience of owning/permanent availability of the robotic pet prior to participating in the study, rather than the pet being introduced as an intervention for the purpose of the study.
The study also seeks to address another gap in previous research, as it is open to all types of robotic pets being included in the study; thus comparisons, differences, similarities and themes across experiences may be found.
Recruitment for the study opened since July 2025, recruiting via advertisements on social media, within care homes, and through third sector dementia organisations. This proposal is seeking approval to recruit via the Tees, Esk & Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust older adult’s services.
REC name
North of Scotland Research Ethics Committee 2
REC reference
26/NS/0020
Date of REC Opinion
2 Apr 2026
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion