| The use of dogs to assist people in need has | | | | the road. |
| been a time tested methodology for years. The | | | | Obviously, both situations are problematic. The |
| benefits are numerous and clear. A movement is | | | | safety issues alone are staggering. Just as |
| now underway to extend the use of guide dogs | | | | important, the person responsible for the patient |
| to assist patients with Alzheimer's and their | | | | has to deal with the constant worry of watching |
| caregivers as well. | | | | the afflicted person. Alzheimer's guide dogs can |
| Guide dogs have been a huge hit from just about | | | | provide a lot of assistance in both of these |
| any perspective. They provide the practical | | | | situations. |
| service of, well, guiding people who have physical | | | | Using dogs for Alzheimer's patients is really an |
| deficiencies. That being said, they perform an | | | | idea in its infancy. There are two programs being |
| important secondary function as well. | | | | tried and each has its own focus. The first is out |
| Dogs are social creatures. When used as guide | | | | of Israel where dogs are trained to listen to the |
| dogs, they spur on those using them to also be | | | | patient and do certain things when particular |
| social and interact with both the pup and those | | | | words are stated. For instance, the use of the |
| people in the surrounding area. This social contact | | | | word "home" would result in the dog guiding the |
| leads to a sense of well being. | | | | person home from wherever they are at that |
| Alzheimer's is a horrific affliction, the veritable | | | | point in time. |
| plague of the 21st century. It and other forms of | | | | The secondary approach is not so much to help |
| dementia slowly deprive the person in question of | | | | the patient as the caregiver. The dog is taught to |
| both their mental functions and their memories. | | | | monitor the patient around the clock. If the |
| As the disease progresses, two secondary | | | | person gets up and leaves the defined space, |
| problems occur. The first is forgetfulness. A | | | | usually a home, the dog will let the caregiver |
| person out on a walk or just out of the house | | | | know by giving it a particular signal. |
| might forget how to get back to it. This is one of | | | | Both of these programs are still in being |
| the earlier stages of the disease. | | | | developed, but they hold promise. If you are |
| As we move further through the stages of the | | | | caring for a person suffering from dementia, take |
| disease, the person in question may begin | | | | a look at the dog guide programs is definitely |
| wondering around and getting lost. They may get | | | | worth your time. |
| up in the middle of the night and walk off down | | | | |