Benefits of Pets For Seniors With Alzheimer’s In Phoenix, AZ

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This is the week of National Pet Day which falls on 11^th April. This is a day specially dedicated to the pets and the role pets play in all our lives. They offer companionship, emotional support, and health benefits ranging from lower rates of depression to reduced anxiety. Having them around can really have a positive impact in someone’s life which especially holds true for senior people. In view to the welfare of the senior people, pet therapy has become a routine part of hospice programs, assisted living communities, and hospitals.

There are a lot of benefits that one can reap from pet therapy, which is also known as animal-assisted therapy. Adults suffering from Alzheimer’s can gain immense benefits from pet therapy. If you have senior family members who are suffering from mobility issues or if you notice symptoms that are indicative of the onset of Alzheimer’s but you are not sure of it, firstly get a health check-up done, then consider going for a senior living option with the best option being going for an assisted living facility. If you are a resident of the Phoenix region in Arizona, you can approach Anthem Senior Living which is an award-winning Anthem assisted living facility in the region. Experienced and compassionate caregivers take care of the clients at all given times.

Alzheimer’s disease and Pet Therapy

People suffering from Alzheimer’s can gain immense benefits from having pets around. Spending time with animals has shown to soothe anxiety, as well as decrease pacing and confusion. As per some memory care experts, pet therapy can be one of the best ways that can effectively manage sundowner’s syndrome.

It is very much difficult to communicate with people who have Alzheimer’s on a verbal level, but pets are able to do that on a non-verbal level. It can be really soothing in gently stroking a pet’s fur and building a relationship with a pet which helps people with memory loss feel connected when verbal skills are lost.

In most memory care programs, bird aviaries are a common sight which can be attributed to the fact that people with Alzheimer’s or dementia are often captivated by birds for a good period of time. A certain amount of peace comes with watching birds build their nests, fly from branch to branch, etc which helps easing anxiety and restlessness.

Even a friend with fins (we are referring to fishes) can offer various health benefits to older adults suffering from Alzheimer’s. In a study conducted by Purdue University, a brightly colored aquarium was placed in the dining room of people who had Alzheimer’s. It was found out that fish captured the participants’ attention, which helped them in staying relaxed and eat more of their food.

You should be very much careful with your selection of an assisted living facility. Make sure to personally visit it and take a tour of the entire place. Talk to the caregivers, the existing residents- check for the cleanliness of the place, how are the meals prepared, the safety measures in place, whether pets are allowed or not, etc.

Book a suite at Anthem Senior Living and give the best experience to your loved one. Learn more about the comforts of home we can provide by contacting us. The senior health challenges that we work with are dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Lewy Bodies Dementia, high blood pressure, companionship care, wound care, bed bound patients, Feeding Tubes/Picc Lines, heart disease, cancer, Arthritis, respiratory diseases, diabetes, falls, depression, etc.