Animal-assisted therapy is an intervention in which an animal is incorporated into the therapeutic process to promote an improvement in the physical, psychosocial and cognitive functions of patients.
According to some studies, animal-assisted therapy is one of the most beneficial non-pharmacological treatments for people with Alzheimer’s disease, due to its high efficacy, it is used in conjunction with other cognitive stimulation activities that develop daily in institutions. , we have music therapy, art and physical exercise.
- In addition.
- It should be noted that controlled contact between a person with Alzheimer’s and an animal is very beneficial at the cognitive.
- Social.
- Emotional and independent level.
- Since emotional memory is the last to disappear in a person with Alzheimer’s.
- It is possible to create a positive emotional bond for both.
- Let’s look at more below.
Numerous studies confirm the benefits of animal-assisted therapy for older adults with Alzheimer’s disease or other degenerative diseases. The main objective of this type of non-pharmacological treatment is to improve the quality of life of these people, which is achieved by focusing on four fundamental areas of human life: physical, cognitive, emotional and social.
Animals can become the best medicine for patients. Your mood improves markedly with simple daily contact with a pet.
The use of this type of therapies is one of the most sought after options by public and private institutions, this is because it offers immediate benefits to patients, especially if we are talking about the early stages of this type of dementia so common.
The most common animals in this type of therapie are dogs, but we can also use cats and even horses, even if they are used in smaller proportions. At first, any dog breed will be ideal for this type of therapeutic work.
The only requirement is that the animal is properly trained, so usually the work is done with breeds such as the labrador or golden retriever, the yorkshire terrier or the German shepherd.
The selection of animals used in zootherapy must be very strict, so they must meet the criteria of control, adaptability, predictability and reliability, as well as inspire confidence throughout the therapeutic equipment.
Pets help people with Alzheimer’s improve aspects such as motor skills and balance, activities such as walking the animal, combing it, feeding it and interacting with it in any way facilitate motor and sensory abilities, so therapists can use these animals to help patients develop their independence.
In addition, a pet serves as a support and constitutes a new incentive, which stimulates communication, arouses interest and attracts attention, thus favoring concentration, for example.
The relationship with animals improves the quality of life of patients and also helps improve care and communication skills.
Pets used in animal-assisted therapy are pre-trained in a specific way to interact with the elderly, so only your presence and your company already bring more well-being and happiness, bring serenity and also help create a sense of responsibility. because having animals at home requires certain tasks to be performed, so that the elderly feel more useful.
Like these types of therapies, it is also possible to prevent people with Alzheimer’s from forgetting the basic activities of daily life, such as combing or folding clothes, as they become responsible for the life of another living being. most associate their responsibilities towards animals with some responsibility to themselves.
This type of therapy is also used to decrease agitation and aggression in people with dementia, an animal is a powerful motivating stimulus in the hands of a professional, in this way it generates positive emotions and facilitates and improves personal relationships and communication within a group. .
On the other hand, the care an animal needs can promote physical, cognitive and social activities, as well as boost self-esteem and improve overall well-being.
The results obtained with animal-assisted therapy are a very interesting novelty for researchers who are dedicated to understanding Alzheimer’s disease, as a pet can change the life of a person with dementia, as it can provide motivation to stay busy. promote physical activity and maintain emotional balance.
At present, we do not yet have a cure for dementia, however, therapies aim to at least reduce the impact of these types of diseases on the lives of older people, thus seeking to slow down the progression of cognitive decline and delay the daily onset of complications. Animal-assisted therapy can be used to control behavioral disorders and solve specific health problems that occur in these cases.
“Until we have the opportunity to love an animal, part of our soul will remain forgotten” – Anatole France-