02/01/2023                                                                            
                                    
                                                                            
                                            Robot Pets and VR Headsets Can Reduce Older Adults’ Loneliness
The U.S. globally has the highest percentage of older adults living alone, according to Pew Research Center. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have long warned that social isolation contributes to numerous health problems, including dementia and depression. Companionship has never been more important. But what if technology could help?
In a fascinating article from the Wall Street Journal, we see how virtual reality, artificial intelligence and robotic pets can help. 
While eldercare administrators and doctors say these aren’t perfect substitutes for human contact, they can reduce loneliness and depression, and improve well-being. And their research showed that older people who had a chance to try some of these technologies took a shine to them, especially when caretakers could help out when needed, especially since so many seniors became more comfortable with tech during the pandemic as a way to stay connected to loved ones.
You can read more here. (Note: this the article may require WSJ subscription.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/robot-pets-and-vr-headsets-can-reduce-older-adults-loneliness-so-why-dont-they-11674857465