THURROCK'S Clinical Care Commissioning Group (CCG), working with Thurrock Council, has come up with innovative way to help borough dementia sufferers – robotic cats!

Following a successful trial in a care home, the CCG and has worked with Thurrock Council to purchase the robots to support people affected by dementia.

Our video shows how successful the cats have been in the USA where the cats were invented by an American company. They have been shown to provide comfort for people living with dementia. It's a battery powered cuddly fake cat that purrs, meows and moves.

The cat also responds to touch when it's petted and hugged.

And the two organisations believe that the importance of such contact comfort is all the more important during the coronavirus emergency where people are unable to visit their relatives.

Community Mental Health Nurse within the Older Adults well-being team, Mark Dorado, who has supervised a trial of the cats, said: "Our patient used to be very agitated and unsettled, but the cat has worked miracles, they seem much calmer."

Cllr James Halden, Thurrock Council's cabinet member for children and adult social care, said: "I am delighted that this initial trial with the Thurrock CCG has made such an impact that we are able to help more of our residents who are living with dementia.

"Strengthening the wellbeing of those living with dementia in Thurrock, particularly during this time when COVID-19 has meant that many people are potentially alone for extended periods of time, is vital.

"It has been proven that pets can reduce the effects of dementia, such as anxiety, depression and loneliness, and we hope that dementia sufferers living in our borough will be comforted and benefit from the companionship of these therapeutic robotic cats.

"We will continue to work with the Thurrock CCG to ensure that dementia patients living in Thurrock get the vital support and care that they require."

In addition to the 'cats', further work has been done to support people going into hospital with dementia by getting community knitters to make Twiddle Muffs, Lap Blankets and Aprons. These items are given to patients to keep and offer something to keep them distracted and less distressed. 60 have been made and distributed so far, patients get to keep them.

Each Robocat and Twiddle muff is for single patient use only.

To help in the quest to knit further Twiddle Muffs, contact Thurrock CCG to check out where to send them.