Play with a pet or a soft toy

Play with a pet or a soft toy

Animals can be great topics of conversation, evoke activity, as well as provide comfort. Stroking a hairy pet can be calming, and interacting with pets can encourage play and activity. Following a dementia diagnosis is not a good time to introduce a new pet to the household. Pets can be demanding, and the extra work can neutralize any positive effects. However, if you know someone with a dog, a cat or even an aquarium, you can consider visiting him or her or asking him or her to visit the person with dementia. Try introducing the person to a confident and calm pet. Later in the disease, robotic pets or even soft toys have shown to be a good replacement, without the negative aspects of traditional pets.


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The DemiCare project has been funded by the Active and Assisted Living programme. AAL is a European programme funding innovation that keeps people connected, healthy, active and happy into their old age.

AAL supports the development of products and services that make a real difference to people’s lives - for those facing some of the challenges of ageing and for those who care for older people if they need help.

The project has an overall budget of 2.029.091,76 €, to which the AAL will contribute with 1.477.535,07 €