Research has countlessly proven the medical effect animals have on our wellbeing and state of mind. Not only are our furry friends part of our family but they also bring with them health benefits such as lowering blood pressure and heart rates, reducing the stress hormone cortisol, and boosting levels of the feel-good hormone, serotonin. Therefore it comes with no surprise the benefits animals have on those living with dementia. Dementia care facilities all around the world, including Livewell, have realised the importance of animals and introducing animals into the facility is not an uncommon practice. Long-loved pets create a sense of home and provide companionship, which is why we allow existing pets to accompany residents and have a few at Livewell for everyone to share.
The residents at Livewell form very special bonds with animals, be it their own pets or the animals on our grounds. The beauty of the unconditional love shown by the animals has a calming effect on the residents which results in their stress levels being reduced and moods stabilized. “Animals provide a tremendous amount of support and it has been shown that those with dementia will eat more following the visit of a therapy animal. Spending time with an animal has even been correlated to lower blood pressure and increased odds of survival after a heart attack,” says animal healing expert, Debbie Caknis.
It is important to remember that behind every successful animal-assisted therapy there’s also a lot of planning, training, and work to be done. Introducing animal therapy to your loved ones living with dementia needs to be safe and done so in a controlled environment. An ideal animal is one that is friendly, comfortable with strangers, and not easily startled. A loud and easily startled animal will have the opposite effect on your loved ones living with dementia, so always make sure you are well prepared before you introduce an animal to your loved one.
Another benefit of animal assisted therapy for persons with dementia is that it is a conversation starter. Often it is difficult for someone with dementia to initiate conversation with others, especially strangers, thus having something to talk about, makes it much easier. Having animals ads responsibility and a sense of ‘usefulness’ and purpose to persons with dementia. When someone with dementia looks after an animal (with the correct amount of supervision) it lets them feel as if they have control over an aspect of their life which improves their sense of self and level of confidence.
If you are still unsure about introducing your loved one to pets, why not join our upcoming support groups so we can address your concerns and help you through the process.