Dogs4Dementia program improves lives
Initial findings of the Dogs4Dementia project, where trained assistance dogs are paired with people living with dementia and their carers at home, show significant benefits to the couples involved.
Rolf and assistance dog Jiyu take part in the pilot study Dogs4Dementia.
The project is a first for Australia and runs in a partnership between HammondCare’s Dementia Centre and Assistance Dogs Australia (ADA).
The interim report, released in Sydney last week, shows overall physical and emotional wellbeing of both the person living with dementia and their carer, have improved since the first dogs were placed in October last year.
Director of HammondCare’s Dementia Centre, Assoc Prof Colm Cunningham, says the results are very promising.
“With thousands of Australians currently living with dementia and this figure expected to treble by 2050, it is essential we find innovative ways of keeping people at home for longer.
“The initial qualitative findings from this project so far show significant social benefits and also improved physical benefits from walking the dog and the need to be more active,” he says.
For the pilot study, funded by the Federal Government, trained dogs were placed with eight couples around Australia, to evaluate whether assistance dogs can provide effective support to a person living with dementia and their carer.
It was hoped the dogs would promote greater independence, confidence, and allow people who have dementia to remain living at home for longer.
The main findings of the interim report are that the couples are more active, and their levels of socialisation, including interaction with local community and family have increased.
The report also highlights increased levels of emotional wellbeing including carer relief, less agitation for the person with dementia and improved feelings of safety and security.
Feedback from participants demonstrate the dogs have created a strong connection to family, accomplishment, joy and hope and carer benefits: “So what a feeling of relief and happiness to be greeted by a perfectly calm, happy husband! Again, I have no doubt this was thanks to Jiyu’s presence”.
Associate Professor Cunningham says each couple and dog has been carefully matched and supported by both organisations for the duration of the pilot.
“Reduced hospitalisation and delayed admission to residential aged care are possible outcomes we are evaluating as well as the positive impact these beautiful dogs can have on the caregiving relationship and carer wellbeing.”
Visit dogs4dementia.com.au for more information.
