An Alzheimer’s diagnosis can be extremely scary. Whether you’ve received the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease or someone you love has just been diagnosed after experiencing symptoms of dementia, the reality is that it can be difficult to know where to turn first. For many people, the answer is already in their own homes. In fact, research shows that pets can help people with Alzheimer’s as they work through their diagnosis and progress through the disease. For a closer look at how your dog, cat, rabbit, or other pet can help as you and your family face an Alzheimer’s diagnosis, read on.
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Companionship
Felines can be a lot of fun no matter what your age or situation. Watching a feline friend run their claws along a storage bin or chase a ball or catnip on a rope can provide hours of entertainment. In short, felines provide great companionship.
If you already own a cat, odds are you know all about how great these four-legged furry friends can be when it comes to keeping you entertained and busy. If someone you love is struggling with Alzheimer’s Disease, the companionship of a cat can be a great way to keep them distracted and feeling loved at the same time. One way to support someone with Alzheimer’s is to order a great product through Cardboard Cat Homes that will encourage the relationship between cat and caretaker.
Cats and the perfect cardboard box home aren’t the only ways to give the person you love something they can stay distracted with and depend on. For dog lovers, gifts like dog pillows and chew toys will work as well as any DIY cat tower will, offering a happy home for the person with dementia as well as the pet. This will not only bring warmth to the house but mean less chance of loneliness, too.
Purpose
Owning a pet can give a person with symptoms of Alzheimer’s a routine and something to do. As a caregiver to a pet, they’ll have to find ways to work around symptoms like memory loss to help take care of the pet they love. This can actually slow down the symptoms of dementia and add up to a better state of mind for the person with Alzheimer’s.
The truth is that all people need a sense of purpose. Being a caregiver to an innocent pet can accomplish that. Even if the person with Alzheimer’s needs help to care for their pet, giving them responsibilities when it comes to caring for the animal will make them feel more valuable and improve their self-esteem as they grapple with their diagnosis or mild cognitive impairment.
Familiarity
Being surrounded by what’s familiar is important for peace of mind. A pet can help make daily life feel familiar even when memory loss is present and a loved one is struggling with routine. The scent, warmth, and touch of an animal someone loves can not only trigger memories but help to form new ones, too. This correlation can even help with symptoms of the disease.
At the end of the day, whether you distract yourself from memory problems and cognitive decline in search of the perfect cat cardboard house or you and your family opt for a new canine family member to adjust to mild cognitive impairments, odds are that you’ll be thankful for the pet in your home. From serving as a fantastic and faithful companion to being part of the memories ahead, making a pet part of how you handle Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, or dementia is a great way to give your family hope.
