Can therapy dogs evoke awareness of one's past and present life in persons with Alzheimer′s disease?

Abstract

Background Persons with Alzheimer's disease (AD) sometimes express themselves through behaviours that are difficult to manage for themselves and their caregivers, and to minimise these symptoms alternative methods are recommended. For some time now, animals have been introduced in different ways into the environment of persons with dementia. Animal‐Assisted Therapy (AAT) includes prescribed therapy dogs visiting the person with dementia for a specific purpose. Aim This study aims to illuminate the meaning of the lived experience of encounters with a therapy dog for persons with Alzheimer's disease. Method Video recorded sessions were conducted for each visit of the dog and its handler to a person with AD (10 times/person). The observations have a life‐world approach and were transcribed and analysed using a phenomenological hermeneutical approach. Results The result shows a main theme ‘Being aware of one's past and present existence’, meaning to connect with one's senses and memories and to reflect upon these with the dog. The time spent with the dog shows the person recounting memories and feelings, and enables an opportunity to reach the person on a cognitive level. Conclusions The present study may contribute to health care research and provide knowledge about the use of trained therapy dogs in the care of older persons with AD in a way that might increase quality of life and well‐being in persons with dementia. Implications for practice The study might be useful for caregivers and dog handlers in the care of older persons with dementia.

A therapy dog’s impact on daytime activity and night-time sleep for older persons with Alzheimer’s disease - A case study

“…Several studies [13,16,17,20,21,23,24,34,35] suggest that AAT with a therapy dog influences persons with AD and other dementias in many ways, for example creating increased social activity, joy and well-being, although Kongable et al [36] found that when a therapy dog moved in to the ward with persons with AD, no significant increases of social behaviour was noted. Swall, Ebbeskog, Lundh Hagelin and Fagerberg [37] also found that the presence of a therapy dog brings moments of sadness difficult for persons with AD to handle. In the present study, we studied activity as a form of effects, which also followed the prescriptions of the AAT.…”

“…The case study is a part of a larger longitudinal research project following persons with AD over a period of 6 months where AAT with a therapy dog team is used [37] . Data for the present study was gathered over a period of 16 weeks between February and September 2011.…”

Stepping out of the shadows of Alzheimer’s disease: a phenomenological hermeneutic study of older people with Alzheimer’s disease caring for a therapy dog

“…The VIOs from the sessions were viewed and transcribed into text without interpretation (Swall et al, 2014). The transcribed texts were then separated from the VIOs and, according to Ricoeur (1976), the text then “stands on its own”.…”

‘Bringing respite in the burden of illness’ – dog handlers’ experience of visiting older persons with dementia together with a therapy dog

“…However, the presence of a therapy dog could also induce reactions such as agitation (Filan & Llewellyn‐Jones ), or a sadness that is difficult to handle (Swall et al . ). Despite some negative aspects of therapy dog visits to persons with dementia, AAT is commonly used with the specific purpose of improving their situation.…”