Pet Therapy is used to help improve dementia patients' mental, social, emotional, and physical functions.

1. Pet Therapy for
Dementia Patients
Six Benefits

3. Samvedna Senior Care www.SamvednaCare.org
Why Pet Therapy?
• Pet Therapy is used to help improve patients mental,
social, emotional, and physical functions
• Animals by their nature are non judgmental,
compassionate, making them the perfect therapists
and companion for individuals with dementia

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Pet Therapy For Dementia Patients
• Therapy is performed with well-trained, certified animals
and their handlers
• Patients may play with, care for, cuddle or simply pet the
animal based on treatment needs

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Symptoms of Dementia
Pet Therapy helps reduce :
• Apathy, irritability and
restlessness
• Depression, anxiety and
changes in mood
• Loneliness, isolation and
frustration
• Loss of motivation to
maintain activity

6. Six Benefits of Pet Therapy

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Physical Activity
• Helps motivate seniors to involve in physical activity
• Petting, walking and cuddling with them provides a
fun, soothing activity
• Pets becomes a part of the elderly’s social support

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Communication Outlet
• Patients of dementia see pets as being non-threatening
• People display more interactive behaviors around pets
• Pets, especially dogs communicate intuitively
• People with dementia may find it easier to communicate
with pets

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Emotional Support
• Pets form a very special bond with humans and give
unconditional love
• Helps lessen symptoms of depression and anxiety
• Helps lower stress inducing hormone, Cortisol
• Helps in increasing the production of feel good hormone
Serotonin

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Enjoyment
• Pets can help take
away boredom
• They give you sense of
pleasure
• They also provide a
distraction from
negativity

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Sense of Purpose
• Being a pet caregiver at an older age gives a sense of
being wanted and needed
• It gives your loved one a reason to get up in the morning
• A pet help bring routine and also gives them a sense of
responsibility

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Reminiscence
• Spending time with a pet helps to reminiscence of
pets they once had
• Pets can help invoke feelings of joy, happiness by
triggering old memories

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Things to keep in mind
• Pets require care, maintenance
and supervision especially around
elderly
• It is a great responsibility
• It may be difficult to manage
along with taking care of a loved
one with dementia
• Elderly may prefer to not own a
pet but have contact with them
occasionally

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Hiring a Pet
• Many organizations specialize in pet therapy
• They bring trained therapy dogs right to your doorsteps
• Elderly can avail and enjoy the therapy for short time
periods at home
• Removes worry about taking full time care of a pet

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Stuffed Toy Animal
• People with advanced
dementia may also enjoy
stuffed toys
• Some interactive toys make
noises and move in response
to your loved one’s touch
• They enrich elderly’s life and
improve their quality of life

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A Healthier and Purposeful Life
Owning a pet or just calling to the organization to bring
their four legged furry therapist to your doorsteps for
few hours can help our aging population or the person
with dementia live a healthier and more purposeful life!

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Samvedna Senior Care
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