Pets Soothe Residents and Caregivers at the Memory Care Community

Friday, June 26th is Take Your Dog to Work day. But at the specialized memory care community, Encore Senior Village in Tucson, employees are encouraged to bring their pets to work every day.

Studies from the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s College of Nursing show that therapy dogs promote social interaction among individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and the long-term presence of a pet boosted positive social behaviors as well as provided a calming influence.

“We know the value of the therapy our dogs provide to everyone at Encore Senior Village. Our dogs frequently interact with residents who have difficulty talking, walking and socializing. We have seen residents who cannot speak clearly, clearly say a dog’s name and find comfort in their presence. This level of comfort stems from the lack of judgment a dog has over the wrong word or behavior. The dog provides unconditional love and support,” says Terri Waldman, Executive Director of Encore Senior Village.

In 2006, the American Pet Products Association conducted a survey and found that 50 million Americans believe having pets in the workplace leads to increased employee morale. The dogs at Encore Senior Village also provide a soothing and understanding presence for the employees and caregivers.

“Caregiving is a rewarding, but demanding job. Pets understand when we need some affection and this can break the isolation that many caregivers feel,” says Waldman.