Pets for Alzheimer’s Patients
April 15, 2007 by Mary Emma Allen
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
Liz mentions pet visitation at nursing homes, hospitals and other places in her post about Assiated-Animal Therapy. When my mom lived at a nursing home during the last years of her Alzheimer’s journey, I often saw the pleasure pet visitation brought to patients there.
Generally once a week, someone brought pets to visit the patients…for them to watch, to pet, and to hold. Smiles appeared on the residents’ faces, their moods brightened, and often they began telling stories about pets they had owned at one time in their lives.
Perhaps it was a pet they had as a child. Or it could have been a pet their children played with. Possibly it was one they and their spouse earned in the early days of marriage. There also were some sad memories of the death of a pet. But generally these were more cheerful ones.
Of course, some patients may have allergies to specific animals. Or they could be fearful of an animal because of some past experience.
It’s a good idea that you note these, especially allergies, when filling out the admission papers and patient’s history, particularly if you learn there may be animal visits at this assisted living or nursing home.
I have a lasha apsoa. She is a small dog. I work in a all dementia building. She goes to work with me. The residents light up when she comes in a room.They love to pet her and watch her and talk about her. They often say to one another, Is that a dog a cat or a bird. Alot of days they decide that she is a bird! She is very patient and kind. Some times I will find three people petting her at once. They all gather around and tell her how much they love her!
My little dog brings out smiles in our Alzheimer’s patients. They are always so happy to see her.
My great wife of 50 years suffers from Alzheimer’s. She has been treated for about six years. She would enjoy contact with an appropriate dog or cat. I have had several dogs but not during the past ten years. I have not acquired one because of the additional responsibility. Thanks, Delton
Thanks for sharing, Delton. Some Alzheimer’s patients like pets, while others may not. Also, as you point out, the care of them falls to someone and there’s not always the time for the additional chores. A visit from a friend’s pet may be the answer…the Alzheimer’s patient has contact with the animal but not enough to lose interest.
My sister is 57 and in her 3rd year (stage 2) of early onset Alzheimers. She just had a seizure the other day (her first) and we suspect it was brought on due to her alcohol abuse (daily consumption expected) and her mismanagement of her Aricept, Namenda and Wellbutrin. My elderly mother organizes her meds at the beginning of each week but my sister monitors the meds on a daily basis and seems to be losing the ability to do so. The real question I have is that she has an old black Lab whom she loves to the exclusion of everyone else. Now that she is going to have to move in with my elderly (84 y/o) parents, I have told them we need to put the dog asleep. THey are unwilling at this point to let her move to Dallas to live with me because she has friends in her small town and there are other complications should she move in with me and my family since my wife and I both work out of town. Anyway, when do you decide when it is time to put the pet down? My sister has drifted into a world of isolation from others and wants to be with the dog only. Even when others are present in the room, she will ignore everyone else and only relate to the dog. She has no boundaries with him and inconveniencing everyone. She never puts a leash on him and he has bitten/snapped at 2-3 kids (mildly-if there is such a thing) over the past 2 years. It seems like this pet is a hindrance to my sister’s mental well being but she has said she doesnt know if she will live if something happens to him. I think he needs to be put to sleep. Will she eventually get over it as her memory fades???