Pets can provide many benefits to people with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. They can increase the comfort of seniors, reduce anxiety, and help them engage with others.
Some independent and assisted living facilities allow residents to keep small pets.
However, some restrictions may apply depending on the facility’s policies. In any case, you want to be sure to ask relevant questions and make the right enquiries about policies governing pets in any assisted living facility of your choice.
What sizes do they permit?
If you want to bring a pet with you, it must be small enough to be carried or placed in a carrier on wheels.
What breeds are prohibited?
You also need to check with your facility about whether they will allow certain breeds of dogs (for example, pit bulls) or cats (like Bengal cat)
Will they provide any form of care for the pet? and are there pet limits in the community?
Some memory care communities will allow visiting pets or facility pets, like therapy dogs. Others may not allow pets at all.
By seeing a familiar face or petting a furry friend, seniors can feel more comfortable, reduce anxiety and help them engage with others.
Studies have shown that pets can improve the quality of life for both people with dementia and their caregivers by helping them maintain social networks and an interest in the world around them.
In addition to improving physical health, pets can be an important part of emotional well-being as well—for example, they may help reduce stress levels in seniors who are experiencing depression or loneliness because they live alone at home (or even worse).
Older adults diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer’s can still be allowed to keep their pets. Pets can be a source of comfort and companionship in the later stages of Alzheimer’s disease. They provide a sense of security, purpose and identity to the elderly.
However, it is important that pets are not considered as medically necessary for an older adult with early-stage Alzheimer’s.
If you have been diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia, your doctor should be able to tell you if your loved one needs any type of medical treatment or therapy—including medications designed specifically to treat this condition.
Before getting a pet, you want ask yourself some questions as well. Some families are unable to provide the care needed for their loved ones and their pets in the late stages of the disease for many reasons.
Alzheimer’s disease can be very difficult to care for and expensive to care for. It’s not just in the fact pets are expensive, looking after them can be quite a challenge so unless you are ready to add this to your list of expenses, then you may want to lay off getting a pet.
Another point is in the physical demand that comes with grooming, controlling and looking after pets can be overwhelming.
As much these pets have been trained, they are still pets and will need a certain level of care.
This is why it was suggested in the earlier part of this article that you make inquiries from the facility to know if they offer any form of care for pets.
This will help you decide on what type of burden you are willing to bare. The disease itself can also be exhausting on you as a caregiver let alone the pet itself.
Animals can be a Great source of comfort and companionship.
Pets can be a source of comfort and companionship for seniors. Studies show that animals can help reduce anxiety, loneliness, depression, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. They also reduce stress in people with those conditions.
Pets are loving creatures that love to cuddle up on your lap when you’re watching TV together at night (even if it seems like they’re sleeping).
You might find yourself cuddling with them while watching shows like “The Big Bang Theory” or “Modern Family”—and sometimes even falling asleep on the couch yourself!
Increased activity and mobility
Pets can help people with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias with social engagement, physical activity, cognitive stimulation, emotional support and other activities of daily living (ADLs).
Pets can be specially trained to meet the emotional, cognitive and physical needs of their owners.
Dogs for example, can go as far as helping seniors get some daily activity done. They can raise alarms incase of emergency and much more. Well trained pets give you a little bit of ease knowing there’s an extra hand In a “furry care giver” to help look after your loved one.
Communal Bonding
Pets can also be used in assisted living facilities to increase the sense of community among residents by providing opportunities for interaction with other residents who may not have access to social activities or medical services otherwise available at their home facility.
Pets have a way of lighting up the atmosphere. They help create bonds and friendship and that sense of social communion.
Pets can be a comfort to people with Alzheimer’s disease, and they can provide many benefits. Pets have been shown to improve sleep quality in elderly people with dementia and reduce their symptoms of depression.
They also help seniors maintain their independence and increase their ability to engage socially. If you really want to get one, then be sure to do your research and ask the right questions from the right people.
At Reliable Oaks, you can book FREE COUNSELLING sessions and these type of inquiries. We’d be more than happy to help.
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