Assisted-Animal Therapy for Alzheimer’s patients.

Pet visitation or Assisted-Animal Therapy is a way of helping Alzheimer’s patients become less agitated and more interested in social interactions. It’s not a new therapy – animal companionship has been used for years as an informal means of comfort and relief.

These days, organizations such as the St John Ambulance Therapy Dog Program (Canada) takes dogs into hospitals, rest homes, and palliative care units to visit patients suffering from isolation, illness, and confusion.

Research and studies indicate that pet visitation helps Alzheimer’s patients by:

- decreasing aggressive and/or hyperactive behavior
- a means of non-verbal communications
- reduce feelings of isolation and depression
- creates a non-threatening environment for self-expression

To find a pet visitation program near you, check out the Land of PureGold Foundation. They maintain a state by state listing of Assisted-Animal Therapy Groups.