1. The effects of pet therapy on patients
with Alzheimer’s Disease

2.  As a former Columbia graduate who now has
difficulty remembering your grocery list
 As a former golf, tennis, or running afficionado
who now has difficulty walking up the stairs
 As a former teacher, who taught at least 25
children every year, who now cannot
remember your own grandchildren’s names
 As a former business mogul who now cannot
figure out how to pay your own bills...

3.  Deal with these issues every day...

4.  Results is memory loss
 Manifests itself as difficulty with expressive
oral and written language
 Results in difficulty with speech
 Negatively affects motor coordination, often
resulting in falls
 Eventually impairs long-term memory
 Markedly impairs the physical body
 Ultimately results in loneliness and depression

7.  Death of spouse
 Death of friends
 Limited mobility, thus affecting participation in
Church and other social activities
 Hectic schedules and obligations of family
members
 Physical and social isolation from others
 Significant health problems, which also limit
participation in social activities
 Complications and characteristics of Alzheimer’s

14.  Agitated clients become more socible and calmer
 Quiet, nonverbal clients speak, and carry on a
conversation
 Confused and disoriented clinets find a focus
 Clients who whine and complain find something
positve to say
 Nursing home clients who have lost their
communication skills find a way to communicate
with the animal through touch.

15.  Providing consistent companionship
 Always ready to give and receive affection
 Can help people feel loved and appreciated
even when human contact is diminished

17.  Is there a relationship between the presence of
a pet and immune functioning during a
stressful life change event?
 Can a close relationship with a pet buffer the
acute stress associated with divorce or death of
a loved one , and moderate the long-term
effects
 Is there a relationship between having a pet
and coping with a life changing event?

21.  Allen, Karen, PhD. (1995). “Coping with life
changes and transitions: the role of pets.”
Interventions. 13 (3), 5-10.
 Banks, Marian R. And William A. (2002). “The
effects of animal-assisted therapy on loneliness
in an elderly population in long-term care
facilities.” The Journals of Gerontology. 57, 428-
432.
 Grimshaw, Heather. (2008). “A four-legged
cure.” Thrive. 2(9), 25-29.

22.  www.DukeHealth.org, “Oncology Recreation
Therapy: Benefits of Animal Assisted
Therapy.”
 Horowitz, Sala. “The Human-Animal Bond:
Health Implications Across the Lifespan.” The
Delta Society, www.DeltaSociety.org
 Kansas City Pets For Life,
www.kcpetsforlife.org