They already guide blind and disabled people; now dogs are to be trained to help people with dementia (癡呆). The duties of these "guide dogs for the mind" will include reminding their owners to take medication, as well as encouraging them to eat, drink and sleep at regular intervals.
The dementia dogs will be trained to respond to sound triggers in the home that prompt them to perform tasks. These could include delivering a bite-proof bag of medicine with a note inside reminding the patient to take it, or waking them up in the morning.
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.
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."
The other advantage of using the pets as companions is that conversation can be increasingly confusing for people with Alzheimer"s, but dogs can give them a sense of silent support and companionship. People light up when they see animals. They don"t need to communicate verbally but they can still interact. You can have a speechless bond.
The dog would also encourage the owner to take them out for walks, ensuring they keep exercising and interacting with other people.Having a conversation with people with dementia will be （）.