YourTV showcased NC’s Fins, Feathers and Fur initiative, a project part of the College’s Healthy Aging and Wellness Innovation Centre (HAWIC), during a demonstration at Linhaven Long-Term Care Home.
The segment highlights the use of robotic companion animals to support older adults living with dementia and explores how the initiative has become a cornerstone of HAWIC, the newest focus of Niagara College’s Research and Innovation division.
HAWIC Research Lead Christine Wilkinson, who initiated the research, is interviewed about the project’s implementation in local long-term care homes, including Linhaven and Heidehof. She discusses how Niagara College faculty, staff and students are advancing the research on robotic companions, which has also been piloted with more than 70 Recreation Therapy staff and students from the College.
The segment features residents at Linhaven interacting with the robotic animals and highlights the positive impact they can have on engagement and wellbeing.
Watch the June 23 segment here.
