Man’s Best Friend: Pet Therapy and Dementia

Think back to a time when you had a beloved pet. Maybe you had a dog when you were a kid that was your best buddy and followed you all over the neighborhood; perhaps you had a cat that would curl up on your bed at night.  How did those pets make you feel?

Pets can be just like members of our family. Some people even refer to their pets as their “furry kids”. Pets don’t judge us for our shortcomings, they just provide unconditional love and affection, even when we occasionally miss a feeding or sometimes don’t feel like playing fetch. They can be a source of great joy and comfort, as well as entertainment; and when they’re gone, they leave behind a void like no other.

People with dementia living in memory care facilities can benefit greatly from having a pet around. A moment ago you were asked to remember how your pet made you feel. Since dementia destroys short-term memories, a person with dementia can only remember things from the past. As dementia worsens, sometimes the person can only remember more primal things, like an association between a person or an object and how it made them feel. For example, a person with advanced dementia may not be able to remember that a dog is called a dog or recall having had a dog, but they can remember the association that a dog makes them feel good.

Pet Therapy is the use of specially trained animals (and their owners) to induce positive memories and associations, and reduce agitation and aggression in people with dementia. Often times those who don’t respond well to other forms of stimulus respond well to the presence of a trained therapy animal. Research has shown in multiple studies that pet therapy results in lower blood pressure, more sociability, and less aggressive behavior in adults with dementia. The physical act of petting an animal is also good for large muscle movement and range of motion flexibility.

The use of having therapy pets around has been included in best practices for memory care facilities all over the country for a number of years. There are hundreds of local chapters, and therapy pets aren’t just limited to dogs — there are trained therapy cats, donkeys, llamas, and other animals as well!

Please feel free to contact us for more information about our memory care and how we can best take care of your needs.