Man's best friend is known to lend a helping paw as guide dogs, sniffer dogs and even search and rescue dogs.
Now there are dementia dogs.
Assistance Dogs Australia will train and prepare Labradors and Golden Retrievers to help provide freedom and independence to people with dementia under a pilot scheme called Dogs 4 Dementia, launched on Tuesday.
It is hoped that elderly couples will be given their lives back when they are partnered with the specially trained dog.
The team behind the project said that the dogs would be taught to respond to alarms and bring medicine pouches, as well as encourage their owners to get out of bed in the morning.
HammondCare’s Dementia Centre director, Associate Professor Colm Cunningham, said the pilot project may bring significant benefits to people living with dementia at home with a family carer.
“We look forward to uniting our passion for improving quality of life for people with dementia with the fantastic work of Assistance Dogs Australia who train and prepare Labradors and Golden Retrievers to help provide freedom and independence to people with physical disabilities,” he said.
The Dementia Dog project began in Scotland and has been closely followed by the likes of Assistance Dogs Australia.
The organisation’s Richard Lord said that given their experience in providing service dogs for people with physical disabilities, children with autism and for those suffering from PTSD, he is confident that Assistance Dogs Australia will be “in good stead when working with the participants in the project”.
The first dogs are expected to be placed with couples in September 2015.
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