Photo: Alzheimer’s Foundation of America
TheAlzheimer’s Foundation of America‘s Education and Resource Center in New York City is always an engaging place to visit, but one day a month it gets especially fluffy.
How therapy dogs fit into this mission statement is clear, especially when you see how visitors to the center react to the canine guests.
“We’re an organization of pet lovers and we recognize the therapeutic value animals hold for individuals of all ages,” Fogel said. “Specifically when it comes to dementia-related illnesses, there is a variety of ways pet therapy has value.”
Alzheimer’s Foundation of America
“For example, an individual who might not be as engaged with the people around them in a nursing home or care setting, when you bring a dog into the environment, their face may light up, they may start petting the dog — which provides them love and comfort and stimulation and could simulate some of the memories of pets they had as a child and they can engage through this reminiscence and talk all about their pet,” she added.
Each session includes two trained therapy dogs fromThe Good Dog Foundationand their handlers. Each canine has been trained to safely interact with senior citizens in an elder care setting.
The 15 spots, which ensure everyone gets ample one-one-one time with the dogs, in each therapy dog meet-and-greet fill up fast, often with visitors returning for another dose of dog love.
“Once you see them with the dogs, it is just smiles, and joy and stories and laughter,” Fogel shared “They become almost transformed and leave with smiles on their faces excited to come back.”
All of the classes at AFA’s Education and Resource Center are free and open to everyone. You do not need an Alzheimer’s diagnosis to participate, but AFA’s programs are designed with older individuals in mind. To learn more about the classes offered, how to sign up and how to support AFA,visit the non-profit’s website.
source: people.com
