The notion that a dog can help someone with Parkinson's overcome the debilitating effects of the disease seems to good to be true. Or, that an Alzheimer's patients can reduce the frequency of anxiety and outbursts related to their condition by living with a cat.
It's called Animal Assisted Therapy, and it comes in many forms.
- Mobility-related assistance for individuals dealing with Parkinson's
- Hospice visits by pet therapy specialists who bring specially-trained dogs to comfort patients
- Inclusion of an animal in regular social interactions to create a focal point for sufferers of Alzheimer's, dementia and other memory impairments
A St. Louis TV station recently ran a segment on a former pastor in the area who turned to a dog for help with his Parkinson's condition.
As the news piece explained, the assistance the dog (named Dayton) provides is relatively simple, but critically important:
Dayton helps steady Hilmer when he's walking. He can even fetch things for him and help him if he falls.
The Times News in Burlington, NC, offered a story on the ability of animals to bring about connections and memories in a way people cannot. In the article, M.J. Tucci, a local bereavement counselor at a hospice facility said the animals can elicits stories, physical movements, and also are able to trigger memories.
A New Zealand blog recently commented on the significance of all types of pets in helping lubricate the social interaction of people suffering from memory impairment conditions, including Alzheimer's. 
"Cats, dogs, & other domestic pets likely serve a social function – offering a point of common interest in conversation with others (a sort of ’social lubricant’), or acting as a surrogate family member
for someone living alone," reported the SciBlog.
The New York Times took up the case of Animal Assisted Therapy in an article recently touching on many benefits, and citing cases where dogs, cats, and bunnies have been brought in to hospitals and assisted living facilities to relax and inspire residents and distract patients from their health problems.
The results can be significant, according to many in the pet therapy field. A piece in the DailyCommercial.com explained recently that among the general benefits, irrespective of the condition a patient may be suffering from, pet therapy has been shown to increase pain tolerance, reduce stress, lower blood pressure and bring smiles to patients' faces.
The story goes on to say that using animals can be especially helpful in the hospice, or memory impairment setting for patients who have withdrawn from the people around them but find interacting with an animal easier and less painful.
With an eye toward maximizing the potential of each person in the sometimes challenging settings of hospitals, hospice or just day to day assisted living environments, Provision Living sees the trend of pet therapy is a compelling treatment option.
