SARASOTA COUNTY, Fla. (SNN) — A teacup yorkie, alongside other furry friends, brings joy to local dementia patients.
People say animals provide unconditional love. That’s what Demi does for members at Town Square University Parkway.
“This is Demi,” said Town Square co-owner Catherine McDermott while holding the four-legged friend. “She is a 4-pound teacup yorkie and the members love her.”
Town Square isn’t like many adult day-care centers.
The center allows seniors to go back in time with their 1950s and ‘60s themed sensory experience, but they also provide a medical model, so having therapy dogs like Demi just makes sense.
“This is probably the most fun I’ve had in years. The facility is excellent. It’s the high point of my day,” said a senior member at Town Square.
Town Square provides specialized care in a stimulating environment for members with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, sight impairments, Parkinson’s, or mobility issues.
Members get to spend eight hours with three different furry friends daily, but dogs aren’t the only animal the facility has brought in.
“We’ve had ponies, we’ve had wallabies, we’ve had kittens,” said McDermott.
Why is pet therapy so important at Town Square?
“Animals are well known, in the world of psychiatry at least, in terms of helping anxiety and depression,” said McDermott. “We as adults and human beings need that connection and animals definitely with their unconditional love bring that to us.”
The faces of members at Town Square light up when the therapy dogs are around.
“The members really get that opportunity to love on her and cuddle her and she loves them right back, which makes them feel so comfortable in an environment that’s difficult for them because of their cognitive impairment,” said McDermott.
Staff members said they expect to see more adult day-care facilities bringing in furry friends in the future
