Jack, our therapy dog
Jack is a therapy dog who works with Therapy Dogs Nationwide. He is a beautiful chocolate Labrador, with a super gentle temperament.
Thank you to Cath, one of our nurses, for bringing him to visit our residents. He was an absolute delight and such a hit with everyone.
Who are Therapy Dogs Nationwide?
Therapy Dogs Nationwide are a voluntary organisation set up in 2016. They help care for people in the community, with their dog therapy work.
Their dogs work with every generation, from every walk of life. They help in schools with their Paws and Read Programme. Also in many areas of the medical sector and a huge range of establishments. They also visit nursing homes and hospices. We are even more fortunate because Jack belongs to Cath, so he is always popping in to say hello!
Benefits of Animal Assisted Therapy
There have been many studies into Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) for people with Alzheimer’s, or other dementias. The results are overwhelmingly positive.
Dogs are by their very nature non-judgemental. They won’t question behaviour or get frustrated with people and will listen without answering back. Stroking and interacting with a dog can be calming and reduce agitation. They have been shown to reduce blood pressure and can even encourage appetite. Just by being there, they encourage social interaction, whether being a topic of conversation or providing a chance to reminisce.
A therapy dog, has a calm temperament and is non-threatening and is fantastic for anyone with dementia.
To read the research articles on AAT and for a full account of the benefits, we recommend the attached article.
https://www.verywell.com/how-does-pet-therapy-benefit-people-with-dementia-9867
See you soon Jack!
We are delighted that Cath has kindly offered to bring Jack into The Lawns on a regular basis. We will stock up on dog biscuits and look forward to more cuddles with Jack soon.