Generous Joy for All Pets Donated

The Cypress Cove family was thrilled to receive a generous donation of 15 Joy for All pets from Bob Oden and Sandy Greenberg in loving memory of their mother, Florence “Floss” Oden. The robotic companion pets include dogs, cats and a red cardinal Walker Squawker! They have been thoughtfully paired with residents in healthcare who can benefit from one and have quickly become an important part of our healthcare neighborhoods.

Joy for All companion pets are designed to bring comfort, companionship, and fun to loved ones. With lifelike movements, sounds, responses, and soft fur (or feathers!), these innovative products help alleviate social isolation, loneliness, and cognitive decline by delivering joy, fun and happiness that increases quality of life. “Play knows no age limit,” is their motto.

According to the company’s website, a Joy for All companion pet has the possibility to help:

• Deliver innovative programming that increases meaningful interactions between residents, team members, and family members
• Facilitate intergenerational connection
• Stimulate conversation and communication in withdrawn residents
• Calm anxiety and soothe those that are agitated
• Increase quality of life for those with dementia
• Can improve behavior without the use of drugs

In a note from Bob to Cypress Cove Executive Director Mary Franklin, he wrote:

“…We gave our mother a Joy for All robotic dog for her 98th birthday…When we gave it to her, she instantaneously named it Sparky as it looked similar to a dog that she had when she was a young teen. She had Sparky for approximately 14 months during which time it became an integral part of her life. She held onto Sparky for her last week at the hospital and was holding him for most of the time at Hospice. Sparky became part of her daily routine as a companion.”

A huge thank you to this amazing family for a generous and thoughtful gift that will bring comfort and happiness to manyresidents in the years to come. This generous contribution spurred an additional donation from resident Jennifer Felt, for a total of 16 Joy for All pets.