Tombot CEO Tom Stevens faced many tough challenges when his mother, Nancy, was diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment that steadily progressed to Alzheimer’s disease, but deciding to rehome her dog was the most difficult.
He realized there was a gap in the market for the millions of people worldwide who face health adversities and cannot safely or practically care for a live animal but want or need a companion. That’s why he launched Tombot in 2017 and created Jennie, a lifelike four-legged golden Labrador retriever dog to help fill the void for therapy patients, seniors, people diagnosed with dementia, and animal lovers who want a pet but are unable to have a real one in their home.
In a Q&A with the Alzheimer’s Caregivers Network, Stevens discusses the benefits of robo-animals as companions for those living with dementia and gives an inside look at the technology that powers Jennie, discussing how the robo-dog can be incorporated into their lives and care plans.
Q: What inspired the creation of Tombot Puppy and Jennie?
A: When my mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, I had to impose lifestyle changes she wasn’t thrilled about, including moving a full-time caregiver into her home and taking her car keys. Things got really bad when my mom trained her beautiful goldendoodle puppy, “Golden Bear,” to be aggressive toward her caregiver. Golden Bear was my mother’s best friend and primary companion. Sadly, rehoming my mother’s dog exacerbated her severe loneliness and depression and severely damaged our relationship.
I looked around for substitutes for live animal companions, but my mom hated everything I presented to her: stuffed animals, baby dolls, and even animatronics! When I launched Tombot in 2017, my mom was our first test subject, interacting with our initial prototypes before she passed away. I am pleased to report that she absolutely loved “Bob.” (That’s what she named all her robotic puppies!) What started as a project to save my relationship with my mom has grown into a company that can potentially help millions of people and their families struggling with Alzheimer’s and other mental health adversities.”
Q: What does research tell us about animals as companions for those with dementia? How are pets helpful for those living with dementia?
A: “While people living with dementia struggle to maintain social relationships with humans, animals can be loyal companions for them. Interacting with animals has been shown to lower cortisol (the stress hormone) and blood pressure, reduce loneliness, and boost mood. The routine of pet ownership (regular feedings, outings, etc.) gives seniors a much-needed sense of responsibility. For dementia sufferers who are primarily patients at this stage of life, it can feel wonderful to be ‘needed’ again.”
Q: What does research tell us about animals as companions for those with dementia? How are pets helpful for those living with dementia?
A: “While people living with dementia struggle to maintain social relationships with humans, animals can be loyal companions for them. Interacting with animals has been shown to lower cortisol (the stress hormone) and blood pressure, reduce loneliness, and boost mood. The routine of pet ownership (regular feedings, outings, etc.) gives seniors a much-needed sense of responsibility. For dementia sufferers who are primarily patients at this stage of life, it can feel wonderful to be ‘needed’ again.”
Q: On the flip side, what challenges and dangers can having pets cause for those with dementia?
A: “As an animal lover myself, I feel strongly about treating animals humanely. Sadly, dementia patients do not always make ideal pet owners. Some may neglect their animals (forgetting to feed them, take them out, etc.) and/or foster an unsafe living environment. Over 90% of dementia patients suffer from the Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD), ranging from anger, frustration, anxiety, and hallucinations to apathy. Certainly, someone experiencing an angry or delusional episode could pose a danger to a live animal. My mother’s BPSD delusions resulted in a frightening situation as she attempted to weaponize her dog against her caregiver. (Fortunately, no one was hurt, and we were able to rehome the dog with friends of the family successfully.) Live animals can also pose a risk to those living with dementia, including falling, infection, etc.”
Q: How does the Tombot technology work? What kinds of things does Jennie do that mimic a real dog?
A: “We tested various prototypes with hundreds of seniors with dementia before deciding what kind of product to build. Though my mother and I were dog lovers ourselves, we didn’t want to assume that puppies were what other dementia patients preferred. It turns out this is exactly what they wanted: incredibly realistic puppies rather than fictitious or cartoonish animals. We set out to create a robotic puppy that looks and behaves like a live 8-10-week-old Labrador retriever, an incredibly popular breed likely to conjure positive memories for American seniors.
“Fall risk is a primary concern for people with dementia. As such, Jennie is designed as a lap dog, capable of many dog-like behaviors. She has five mechanical subsystems, which provide movement in the mouth, eyes, ears, neck, and tail. Since my partners and I are tech people — not creative artists — we partnered with Jim Henson’s Creature Shoppe, the wonderful folks behind the Muppets, to create Jennie’s naturalistic movement. We also spent ample time with live Labrador retriever puppies so that we could get the scale and subtle expressions just right.
“As an autonomous robot, Jennie’s behaviors are ‘undetermined’ and non-repetitive; this is crucial since repetitive motions will look more like a mechanical toy than a living animal! Like a live dog, we can expect certain behaviors when presented with certain stimuli. For instance, Jennie barks happily when spoken to, wags her tail when entertained, orients her head toward a speaker, and coos when petted. She also falls asleep and snores when she gets bored!”
Q: How can Jennie be integrated into care plans for those living with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia?
A: “The great thing about Jennie is that she is a puppy. Most people intuitively understand how to relate to puppies, so there is very little in the way of a learning curve for the user or the caregiver. We know that many seniors with Alzheimer’s live at home with the help of an unpaid family caregiver — often a spouse, daughter, or daughter-in-law. Due to the stress of Alzheimer’s and associated BPSD symptoms, this disease can also take a mental and physical toll on caregivers. In some ways, Jennie is as much for caregivers as for patients: If the patient is happy, the caregiver should become happier, too!
“The idea here is not to replace human interaction but to stimulate more positive engagement. Jennie can stay on the patient’s lap all day as a companion animal if necessary. Like a real dog, she can provide comfort and/or stimulation 24/7. For dementia patients whose worlds are shrinking, it can be so comforting to have a constant and faithful companion can be so comforting.
“Another major problem for dementia patients is the use (and overuse) of certain prescription drugs. Not only do antipsychotics turn seniors into zombies, but they pose grave dangers, including an increased risk of death. There is encouraging data showing that robotic companion animals can improve dementia sufferers’ physiological and mental health symptoms and even reduce the use of these dangerous meds.”
Q: What kind of maintenance should people consider before getting Jennie as a companion for a loved one?
“When my mother fed her prototype puppy chocolate pudding, I learned firsthand that dementia patients can be tough on their belongings! Fortunately, Jennie is a pretty robust little dog. She is not fully submersible, but her fur can get a little wet. She can be cleaned with a bit of soap and water. For most situations, an antibacterial wipe will be sufficient for cleaning. We will provide a comprehensive warranty and service plan in case Jennie needs to go to the ‘veterinarian.’ Jennie’s personality lives in her software and can be transferred to a new puppy.
“We have learned from our customers that it can be traumatic for a dementia patient’s animatronic/robotic companion to run out of batteries. Sudden motionlessness may feel like the death of the animal. There is no need to run to the store for replacement batteries — Jennie is rechargeable. Just plug her into the wall like a smartphone!
“It’s so important for seniors to be able just to plug and play. We will offer features for caregivers through our mobile app for those who wish to use it, but a smartphone is not required to run Jennie.”
Q: As Tombot and Jennie’s technology evolves, will people have to buy a new model with every update?
A: “Like a real dog, each Jennie will grow in capability over time. You can operate Jennie right out of the box. Just plug it into the wall to charge — no smartphone necessary, no updates. We will have an app for smartphone users that provides software updates for the robot, including expanding Jennie’s available behaviors.
“We know seniors don’t typically have the disposable income to buy new robots every month, so Jennie is intended as a Furever Dog. Of course, customers are always welcome to expand their doggie family!”
Q: Do you plan on working with senior living facilities and community centers so people who cannot afford their own Jennie can still experience the benefits of animal companions?
A: “Absolutely! Though Jennie is intended as an emotional attachment object for individuals, we recognize there is value in accessing her in shared-use situations like support groups and therapy. Many senior living and daycare facilities have already pre-ordered their Jennies. You will also see Jennie in hospitals and post-acute skilled nursing facilities. Folks across the globe email us 24/7, citing innovative uses and situations for Jennie. We are only too happy to oblige! It is our sincerest hope to help as many people as possible.”
