Many patients around the world live with the risk of mental health diseases. Psychiatric drugs today are now being prescribed without a mental health professionals say in what could potentially be the most beneficial to the patient which can result in unsafe and ineffective routes. These drugs aren’t always the best method especially in cases of dementia. Dementia is a persistent or chronic disorder of the mental process caused by many negative impacts the brain may have taken and is marked by impaired memory, personality changes and reasoning disorders. Over 36 million people worldwide, especially in elderly, live with dementia and the number ceases do decrease at it is expected to double every 20 years. Dog Assisted Intervention or DAI would
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Currently, Sweden is the only country in the world that practices DAI as a national standard in home care for older people, dementia care and rehabilitation for brain injuries (Ingeborg Hook, founder of the Swedish Therapy Dog School). A few researchers like Bernabei et al (2013) found several studies with promising results including seven of the ten studies that tested DAI on BPSD that decreased agitation and promoted social communication in patients with dementia (Richeson 2003, Filan and Llewellyn-Jones 2006 Beetz et al 2012). DAA, or dog-assisted activity, alone even reduced shouting and screaming which reduced heart rate (Williams and Jenkins 2008). Although it is very difficult for researchers to find intervention that are non-pharmacological and are effective, and sustainable over time, there may be some indication that a new treatment has been …show more content…
The data collected was from eight nursing homes in the Eskilstuna municipality. Participants included were a total of 33 residents; while 20 participants (eight men, 12 women) were part of the DAI group. The Swedish Therapy Dog School instituted four trained and certified handlers and dogs including one boxer, one golden retriever and two flat-coated retrievers. Half of the nursing homes, four, were the control group based on their similarities with the other half of the nursing homes that already had AAI, or animal assisted intervention, implemented in terms of residency, employee population and culture. The study period lasted from March to November 2011 and criteria for this study included being diagnosed with dementia and a resident at the homes for four weeks prior to the study. Before the start of the study, the cognitive impairment of each patient was collected and determined by the MMSE. Protocols for the group testing DAI were activities such as petting, feeding, walking, talking, brushing, playing, and reminiscing with the dog as well as talking to the dog handler. Each of the ten DAI protocols had a duration of 45 to 60 minutes for once or twice a week for each session totaling to an average median of 12 weeks. Controlling the dog at all times, the handler brought the dog to the participant’s apartment and began the sessions with an
Currently, Sweden is the only country in the world that practices DAI as a national standard in home care for older people, dementia care and rehabilitation for brain injuries (Ingeborg Hook, founder of the Swedish Therapy Dog School). A few researchers like Bernabei et al (2013) found several studies with promising results including seven of the ten studies that tested DAI on BPSD that decreased agitation and promoted social communication in patients with dementia (Richeson 2003, Filan and Llewellyn-Jones 2006 Beetz et al 2012). DAA, or dog-assisted activity, alone even reduced shouting and screaming which reduced heart rate (Williams and Jenkins 2008). Although it is very difficult for researchers to find intervention that are non-pharmacological and are effective, and sustainable over time, there may be some indication that a new treatment has been …show more content…
The data collected was from eight nursing homes in the Eskilstuna municipality. Participants included were a total of 33 residents; while 20 participants (eight men, 12 women) were part of the DAI group. The Swedish Therapy Dog School instituted four trained and certified handlers and dogs including one boxer, one golden retriever and two flat-coated retrievers. Half of the nursing homes, four, were the control group based on their similarities with the other half of the nursing homes that already had AAI, or animal assisted intervention, implemented in terms of residency, employee population and culture. The study period lasted from March to November 2011 and criteria for this study included being diagnosed with dementia and a resident at the homes for four weeks prior to the study. Before the start of the study, the cognitive impairment of each patient was collected and determined by the MMSE. Protocols for the group testing DAI were activities such as petting, feeding, walking, talking, brushing, playing, and reminiscing with the dog as well as talking to the dog handler. Each of the ten DAI protocols had a duration of 45 to 60 minutes for once or twice a week for each session totaling to an average median of 12 weeks. Controlling the dog at all times, the handler brought the dog to the participant’s apartment and began the sessions with an