They already guide blind and disabled people; now dogs are to be trained to help people with dementia or Alzheimer's.
They
already
guide
blind
and
disabled
people
;
now
dogs
are
to
be
trained
to
help
people
with
dementia
or
Alzheimer
's
.
Alzheimer's can make people confuse night and day or forget basic things such as washing or drinking enough water.
Alzheimer
's
can
make
people
confuse
night
and
day
or
forget
basic
things
such
as
washing
or
drinking
enough
water
.
The dogs will be trained to respond to sound triggers in the home that cause them to perform tasks.
The
dogs
will
be
trained
to
respond
to
sound
triggers
in
the
home
that
cause
them
to
perform
tasks
.
The duties will include reminding their owners to take medicine, as well as encouraging them to eat, drink and sleep regularly.
The
duties
will
include
reminding
their
owners
to
take
medicine
,
as
well
as
encouraging
them
to
eat
,
drink
and
sleep
regularly
.
The idea was developed by design students at the Glasgow School of Art and will now be put into practice by Alzheimer's Scotland and Dogs for the Disabled.
The
idea
was
developed
by
design
students
at
the
Glasgow
School
of
Art
and
will
now
be
put
into
practice
by
Alzheimer
's
Scotland
and
Dogs
for
the
Disabled
.
The first dogs will be distributed to four Scottish couples, where one of the partners is in the early stages of dementia.
The
first
dogs
will
be
distributed
to
four
Scottish
couples
,
where
one
of
the
partners
is
in
the
early
stages
of
dementia
.
Some 670,000 people in Britain have dementia and one in three over 65s will develop the condition.
Some
670,000
people
in
Britain
have
dementia
and
one
in
three
over
65s
will
develop
the
condition
.
By 2021 this is expected to rise to one million.
By
2021
this
is
expected
to
rise
to
one
million
.
Joyce Gray of Alzheimer's Scotland said, "People in the early stages of dementia are still able to live a relatively normal life, and dogs help to maintain routine."
Joyce
Gray
of
Alzheimer
's
Scotland
said
,
``
People
in
the
early
stages
of
dementia
are
still
able
to
live
a
relatively
normal
life
,
and
dogs
help
to
maintain
routine
.
''
Another advantage of using the pets as companions is that dogs can give them a sense of silent support and companionship.
Another
advantage
of
using
the
pets
as
companions
is
that
dogs
can
give
them
a
sense
of
silent
support
and
companionship
.
Ms Gray said, "The evidence is that people may forget familiar faces but not pets.
Ms
Gray
said
,
``
The
evidence
is
that
people
may
forget
familiar
faces
but
not
pets
.
It's such a strong bond that people often remember them longest.
It
's
such
a
strong
bond
that
people
often
remember
them
longest
.
People don't need to communicate verbally but they can still interact.
People
do
n't
need
to
communicate
verbally
but
they
can
still
interact
.
You can have a speechless bond."
You
can
have
a
speechless
bond
.
''
Helen McCain, director of Dogs for the Disabled, said, "People with dementia often forget to take the medicine.
Helen
McCain
,
director
of
Dogs
for
the
Disabled
,
said
,
``
People
with
dementia
often
forget
to
take
the
medicine
.
If a dog presents them with a bag with pills in it there's a greater chance of them taking it.
If
a
dog
presents
them
with
a
bag
with
pills
in
it
there
's
a
greater
chance
of
them
taking
it
.
The dog would also encourage the owner to take them out for walks, ensuring they keep exercising and interacting with other people."
The
dog
would
also
encourage
the
owner
to
take
them
out
for
walks
,
ensuring
they
keep
exercising
and
interacting
with
other
people
.
''
They already guide blind and disabled people; now dogs are to be trained to help people with dementia or Alzheimer's. Alzheimer's can make people confuse night and day or forget basic things such as washing or drinking enough water.  The dogs will be trained to respond to sound triggers in the home that cause them to perform tasks. The duties will include reminding their owners to take medicine, as well as encouraging them to eat, drink and sleep regularly.  The idea was developed by design students at the Glasgow School of Art and will now be put into practice by Alzheimer's Scotland and Dogs for the Disabled. The first dogs will be distributed to four Scottish couples, where one of the partners is in the early stages of dementia. Some 670,000 people in Britain have dementia and one in three over 65s will develop the condition. By 2021 this is expected to rise to one million.  Joyce Gray of Alzheimer's Scotland said, "People in the early stages of dementia are still able to live a relatively normal life, and dogs help to maintain routine." Another advantage of using the pets as companions is that dogs can give them a sense of silent support and companionship. Ms Gray said, "The evidence is that people may forget familiar faces but not pets. It's such a strong bond that people often remember them longest. People don't need to communicate verbally but they can still interact. You can have a speechless bond."  Helen McCain, director of Dogs for the Disabled, said, "People with dementia often forget to take the medicine. If a dog presents them with a bag with pills in it there's a greater chance of them taking it. The dog would also encourage the owner to take them out for walks, ensuring they keep exercising and interacting with other people."