Melanie Haiken, is a Health
Journalist she
discovered how important it is to provide accurate, targeted, usable health
information to people facing difficult decisions when she was health editor of
Parenting magazine. She has written about health and family-related issues for
magazines such as Health, Real Simple, Woman's Day, Yoga Journal, and websites
such as BabyCenter.com, WebMD, and the Blue Cross/Blue Shield websites
(aHealthyMe.com, aHealthyAdvantage.com) managed by Consumer Health Interactive.
A massive Thank you to Melanie for including the work of
The Edith Ellen Foundation and The Mummy Dementia on raising much needed
awareness of how Pets can help those with Dementia.
Extract of Article:
Life-saving pets: Dogs that calm Alzheimer's patients
Pets
are therapeutic for those with Alzheimer's and dementia, experts say. According
to the Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation, therapy dogs can
provide important comfort, companionship, and a sense of connection for those
isolated by Alzheimer's and dementia. One dog, a prizewinning golden retriever named James, has been calming residents in
the dementia units at the Birmingham Green Nursing Home and Assisted Living
facility for several years since he became a therapy dog after retiring from
dog shows.
Mara
Baun has been documenting the therapeutic effects of dogs on dementia
patients at the University of Houston School of Nursing for more than a
decade. According to Baun, people with dementia had fewer episodes of
disorientation, wandering, and aggression when a dog was resident in the
special care unit where they lived. And at the University of Nebraska,
researchers found that dogs can provide relief from sundown syndrome, in which
those with Alzheimer's become confused and agitated as the light changes at the
end of the day.
EdithEllenFoundation
shares additional insights and benefits of pet therapy for those with dementia.
Takeaway
tip: If someone you love suffers from
Alzheimer's or dementia, consider the companionship of a therapy dog, or
scheduling visits with such a dog. And when considering placing someone in an
Alzheimer's care unit, ask about the use of pet therapy.
The full article can also be read here
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