The funding will be used in a study to advance the evidence base for non-pharmacological interventions in memory care settings, with the goal of finding effective ways to support mental health and wellness in older adults with mild to moderate cognitive impairment.

Robots for Connection

Beltran and Gryglewicz are evaluating the preliminary effectiveness and feasibility of the PARO therapeutic robot — in this case, a soft, fluffy baby harp seal — to improve mood, behavior and social interactions. While studies have shown that non-pharmacological interventions, like pet therapy, have positive effects, access to animals in healthcare settings is limited due to allergies, hygiene and cost. Therapeutic robots could replicate the benefits of pet therapy without those limitations.

CHPS obtained its first PARO robot, nicknamed Sully the Seal, in 2023.

Social work faculty have already used Sully to support domestic violence victims during debriefing sessions and to provide companionship and interactive stimulation for neurodiverse adults. Beltran, a former nursing home social worker specializing in end-of-life care, saw an opportunity to bring Sully to older adults in long-term care settings to improve social engagement, foster connection and reduce loneliness.

The PARO robot is already in use in over 30 countries, including in hospitals, long-term care and behavioral health settings. The FDA recognizes it as a Class II medical device. Clinical studies have shown that the robot reduces cortisol levels and improves mood. Equipped with voice and vocal tone recognition, heart rate monitoring, and light and touch sensors, its behaviors are designed to elicit nurturing responses from users, which have been associated with physiological and psychological benefits.

CHPS will acquire a second PARO robotic seal for use in the study.

“Many older adults in long-term care have few opportunities for consistent, meaningful connections,” Beltran says. “Social engagement robots like PARO offer a simple way to create moments of interaction in settings where social connection doesn’t always happen naturally.”

An Alternative Method of Care

Memory care settings often heavily rely on medication to manage behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia. Still, these approaches can have limited effectiveness, carry side effects and may not be appropriate for all residents. Beltran and Gryglewicz’s research will address critical gaps in research by developing and testing a structured intervention that combines guided group sessions and one-on-one interactions using PARO robots.

“Our intervention is not only innovative but also offers therapeutic benefits for enhancing the quality of life for residents,” Gryglewicz says.

Human-animal bonds are linked to healthy aging and an improved quality of life, including decreased blood pressure, cholesterol levels, triglyceride levels, feelings of loneliness, anxiety and symptoms of PTSD, according to the American Humane Society. Yet many older adults in memory care are unable to manage the responsibilities of pet ownership.

Robotic companions like PARO may be an alternative to a “living” house pet, with the ability to “sense” its environment and provide comfort to human companions.

How the Study Will Be Conducted

The Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ă˝ study will take place at two Central Florida memory care facilities, where 50 older adults with cognitive impairment or dementia will participate in both group and individual sessions with the robotic seals.

Master’s in social work students will lead group sessions, guiding participants through nurturing interactions, such as petting and talking to PARO. Nursing staff at the memory care facilities will help track behavioral and emotional responses before, during and after the sessions.

“For residents who may struggle with verbal communication, Sully can become a shared point of engagement, triggering smiles, memories or moments of interaction that might not otherwise occur,” Beltran says.

A Surprising Showcase

This past summer, Beltran showcased Sully at Orlando Health’s Second Annual Mental Health Conference, where she shared her experience using the robotic seal to enhance clinical impact. Social work professionals from around the state were able to experience Sully’s nurturing mannerisms in real time.

As Beltran presented, conference attendees heard soft squeals and subtle movements from a table in the back corner of the room. It was Sully, ready for attention before the seal was even introduced to the stage.

Sully purred as he was passed around from attendee to attendee, whining when he wasn’t petted.

“When I first introduce Sully, many social work practitioners expect that clients won’t connect with it or are skeptical that a robotic animal could be meaningful,” Beltran says. “The feedback I hear most often is surprise at how quickly Sully sparks real warmth, comfort and engagement.”

Future Efforts

Looking ahead, Beltran and Gryglewicz plan to expand the college’s robotic “zoo” within the next year to include other robotic animals like cats, dogs and birds.

“The goal of our research is to facilitate meaningful connections with these robotic companions, enhancing socialization and emotional well-being for individuals with limited social interactions and capabilities,” Gryglewicz says. “We plan to scale this intervention for widespread dissemination in healthcare settings in the future.”

The inductees and their respective academies are: Interim Dean Matthew Theriot (Social Work), Associate Dean of Research Jennifer Kent-Walsh (Speech-Language Pathology), Department of Health Sciences Chair Gail Kauwell (Nutrition and Dietetics), Director for the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders Ann Eddins (Audiology), Associate Professor Nicole Dawson (Physical Therapy), Clinical Associate Professor Carey Rothschild (Physical Therapy) and Assistant Professor Susanny Beltran (Social Work). The honors were bestowed at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C., on March 15.

Prior to his appointment as interim dean, Theriot served as the director of the School of Social Work where he implemented a professional and community education program, grew interprofessional research opportunities, and elevated the school’s graduate rankings. As the interim dean, he provides leadership to the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders, the Department of Health Sciences, the School of Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Sciences, and the School of Social Work. Theriot’s career includes more than two decades of higher education teaching and research coupled with years of executive leadership roles centered around implementing strategic initiatives. He previously worked as a school social worker, mobile crisis counselor and child welfare worker. Theriot is active in professional service on a national level, chairing the Council on Social Work Education’s Commission on Membership and Professional Development.

Kent-Walsh is a Pegasus Professor and the associate dean of research and faculty excellence within CHPS, the director of the Florida Alliance for Assistive Services and Technology Center and leads the Assistive Technology Center Lab. Kent-Walsh has earned more than two dozen awards and accolades for excellence in teaching, service, research and innovation during her more than 20-year career in higher education and has worked extensively in interdisciplinary teaching and clinical roles. A highly accomplished researcher, she has secured millions in funding to further her research which focuses on aided language development and augmentative and alternative communication, has presented her work extensively nationally and internationally, and has led a variety of initiatives in the college to advance interdisciplinary research and practice.

An experienced educator, researcher and registered dietician nutritionist with more than four decades of experience in academia focused on nutrition and dietetics education and practice, Kauwell has served as Professor and Chair of the Department of Health Sciences for the last six years. Her mentoring skills and passion for educating future healthcare professionals have been recognized with multiple awards for teaching and mentoring excellence. Her research record, which focuses on folate and vitamin B12, has been published in top-ranked journals with findings translated into materials for healthcare professionals and consumers. Kauwell most recently spearheaded the development of the department’s first graduate program, the master’s in health promotion and behavioral sciences.

Eddins, a professor and the director of the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders, has more than 30 years of academic and leadership experience in the field. She is a clinical audiologist and classically trained neuroscientist who has centered her clinical and research interests on neural encoding, neural plasticity aging and rehabilitative intervention — working to better understand the neural bases of auditory perception in normal-hearing and hearing-impaired individuals. Her research has been continuously funded by the NIH, NSF, private industry and foundations. Eddins is also a leader on a national level, serving as past President of the Council of Academic Programs in Communication Sciences & Disorders and on the Board of Directors and journal editor for the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

Dawson has been involved with interprofessional education, practice and research throughout her 22-year career. An associate professor in the Division of Physical Therapy and director of the Aging and Longevity Initiatives for Vitality & Enrichment Lab, Dawson’s clinical work and research has centered around healthy aging and improving the quality of life for seniors. She is a Board Certified Geriatric Physical Therapist Emeritus who has been recognized by both the Academy of Geriatric Physical Therapy and the American Physical Therapy Association for her outstanding work as an educator. She holds an appointment with Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ă˝â€™s Faculty Cluster Initiative in Disability, Aging and Technology, an interdisciplinary collaboration that explores innovations to better support aging populations.

A clinical associate professor in the Division of Physical Therapy, Rothschild is a board-certified clinical specialist in sports physical therapy and orthopedic physical therapy, a certified strength and conditioning specialist and a Menopause Society certified practitioner. Her areas of interest are determining best practices for the assessment and treatment of persistent pain to improve the health of patients. Rothschild has more than 25 years of clinical practice experience, collaborating with interprofessional and intraprofessional teams to deliver cost-effective, collaborative and patient-centered care to those with chronic pain. She has been recognized nationally for her teaching excellence, and recently helped lead the implementation of a new Women’s Health Physical Therapy Residency program in conjunction with Orlando Health. She also serves as editor in chief of the prominent publication Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Practice.

Beltran, an assistant professor in the School of Social Work and a co-director of the Center for Behavioral Health Research and Training is committed to fostering interdisciplinary education and research in social change and development. Her expertise is in gerontological social work and her research concentrates on end-of-life care, advance care planning and challenges that may come with working in hospice and nursing home settings. Beltran aims to enhance collaborative practice in the care of older adults and improve access and navigation of end-of-life care for older adults while preparing social workers for effective practice in interdisciplinary settings.

The NAP Academies also include dentistry, nursing, occupational therapy, optometry, pharmacy, podiatric medicine, psychology, respiratory care and veterinary medicine.

These faculty members join four CHPS faculty previously inducted into the NAP. In 2023, Ěý˛ą˛Ô»ĺĚý, and in 2024, Clinical Associate Professors Laurie Neely and Jennifer Tucker ’23 were inducted in physical therapy.