AIBO was clearly an effective rehabilitation tool in the treatment of severely demented patients.

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Abstract-An animal-shaped toy was provided as a therapeutic tool to patients with severe dementia during a therapeutic program and after dinner. The occupational therapist delivered three animal -shaped toys-a gorilla, a tiger and a dog-during the therapeutic program. These toys performed amusing actions. The occupational therapist observed the activities of the patients and classified them into six categories (no reaction, close observation, talking, clapping, patting the toy, taking care of the toy). The total duration of activities during the period of the therapeutic program was recorded. Most of the patients were interested in the toys, and they looked much happier and less agitated. They became accustomed to the toy dog day by day. The animal-shaped toy is a useful tool for occupational therapy. Keywords -Therapeutic tool, diversional therapy, toy I. INTRODUCTIONPet therapy has been used to heal the dementia patients [1][2][3][4]. Dogs are one of the most popular companion animals, but there are some risks: hazards for the dog, hazards for the patient, sensory overload, dislike of the pet, and so on. On the other hand, a few animal-shaped toys based on robot technology have been developed. Doll therapy has also been applied as a diversional therapy for dementia patients in Australia [5]. In this study, we tried providing animal-shaped toys as a diversional therapy for patients with severe dementia, to decrease the frequency of their agitation and wandering. II. METHODOccupational therapy was administered during daytime working hours in Green Home, a nursing home for elderly patients with severe dementia . Formal approval for the study was obtained from the Ethics Committee of the FujimotoHayasuzu Hospital before the toys were delivered to the patients. A. Comparison of toysThree animal-shaped toys were prepared as tools for the therapeutic program. Fig. 1 is a photo of the toys: a gorilla, a tiger and a dog. Each toy performed amusing dancing, jumping and walking actions. During the therapeutic program, the occupational therapist (OTR) showed the three toys for 90 seconds each to a small group of three or four patients . The OTR observed the patients ' activities and classified them into six categories ( no reaction, close observation, talking, clapping, patting the toy, taking care of the toy). The total number and duration of activities during the period of the therapeutic program were recorded. B. Delivery of toy dog after dinnerAfter dinner, patients with severe dementia generally become agitated or wander. We expected a decrease in the frequency of agitation and wandering after using the toy dog, which was the most popular animal. A whistle that caused the dog to bark was removed for the convenience of the care staff. The patients came to the main lounge after dinner. The OTR delivered two toy dogs to the main lounge for 40 minutes. The OTR then observed the patients ' activities for one hour and classified them into four categories (no reaction, agitation or wandering, showing interest in something, ...

-We gave patients with severe dementia a babylike doll to serve as a virtual baby in a therapeutic program and after dinner when the subjects missed their homes. In the therapeutic program, an occupational therapist provided the patients with two soft plastic dolls and one silicone doll, complete with dress and cap, for 90 seconds. The activities of the patients were observed by the occupational therapist and classified into four categories (no reaction, close observation, care of the doll, communication with other residents and caregivers). In the 60-minute therapeutic program, the total number of activity episodes was around 300. The dolls were also placed in the main hall after dinner, but the only patients who noticed them were those interested in the virtual babies. The patients appeared much happier and less agitated when handling the dolls. Although doll therapy is not suitable for everybody, it is a useful tool in occupational therapy.