Can someone living with dementia benefit from a pet?
How can someone living with dementia benefit from a pet?
We understand the difference a furry friend can make to the well-being and quality of life of someone living with dementia. Your pet’s needs come hand in hand with your own, so we will incorporate these into your support plan. Your carer will be there to fit in with your life and your schedule, and isn’t restricted to office hours. If you’re interested in live-in care, a pet-friendly carer can live in your home with you, visit every day or come on particular days and times to suit you.
Considerations before getting a pet for someone living with dementia
There are several factors to take into consideration before making what can be a major decision.
Firstly, the type and stage of your loved one’s dementia should be assessed, so that their suitability for having a pet around can be determined.
If your loved one is at an early stage of their dementia journey, they may well be in a fit condition to keep their furry friend – and might even be able to walk, feed and care for it. As the condition progresses and your loved one’s cognitive functions start to decline, their ability to look after a pet will also take a downturn.
Analyse your loved one’s situation and determine how severe the symptoms are, as well as how slowly or quickly they’re likely to decline.
Another consideration is whether your loved one’s pet is easy to look after. The easier an animal is to look after, the more likely it is to be suitable for someone living with dementia.
Small caged animals such as hamsters and gerbils are great examples of animals which are easy to care for and can offer a valuable source of comfort and therapy to someone living with dementia, and a favourite, low-maintenance dog or cat can also fulfil that role.
Of course, when making a decision around a pet, the final say lies with your loved one as to whether they want it in their home or not. They may decide early on into their diagnosis that a pet might be an unwanted source of stress or annoyance. Be respectful of your loved one’s wishes, and make sure that decisions aren’t taken against their will.
Charities such as The Cinnamon Trust can help with the day to day care of a pet when it becomes difficult for a loved one, such as taking them for walks, fostering them if your loved one needs to go to hospital, cleaning cages, and more.
Alternatives to a Full Time Pet
Owning a pet isn’t the only way for those living with a type of dementia to enjoy the benefits that come from regular interaction with animals.
Many people living with dementia benefit from comforting dolls or teddies which are able to replicate the calming effects of a real pet. You might also consider whether a friend or family member has a suitable pet which they could bring along from time to time for your loved one to interact with. If this isn’t an option, there are national charities such as Pets As Therapy and Therapy Dogs Nationwide which offer pet therapy visits – as well as many local charities offering the same service. This is something your Helping Hands carer will be happy to help you research and plan.
How Helping Hands can Help with Dementia Care
At Helping Hands, we’re committed to providing high-quality dementia care that truly offers a better quality of life and level of independence to those living with types of the condition. We know that every dementia journey is completely unique to each individual, and each case progresses at a different rate, so we’ll always make sure every customer we interact with receives a dementia care plan that is tailored around them and their circumstances.
One of the main symptoms of many types of dementia is a heightened sense of confusion and disorientation. Remaining in the familiar home environment and making relevant adaptations can drastically help reduce this problem and enable the dementia patient to feel at ease with their surroundings.
All of our carers receive our industry-leading dementia care training when they start with us, which equips them to provide truly transformative specialist dementia care. Our dementia care focuses on supporting the person living with dementia to live as independently as possible and manage the symptoms of their condition.