I'm sorry, my point wasn't that there are no animals that exist to help the elderly; my point was that this item is used when patients want an animal but can't care for it. It is a shame there isn't more that can be done for companionship in these situations outside an inanimate object. Some may have a limitation that keeps them from properly caring for the animal, like timely feedings and cleaning up after them. Animals can be a fall-hazard.