Abstract
BackgroundWith the aim of improving the quality of life of people with Alzheimer’s disease, primarily as regards behavioral and psychological symptoms, we implemented canine-assisted therapy in a group of people with this disease.MethodsWe conducted a quasi-experimental study, with a simple pre-post case series design. Participants comprised 10 Alzheimer’s day care center users presenting severe or very severe cognitive decline. The measurement instrument employed was the Quality of Life in Late-Stage Dementia (QUALID) scale.ResultsBy the end of the therapy, 100% of participants showed an improvement in physical, behavioral, and psychological aspects. The total scores of the QUALID scale for the three different evaluation times (before the therapy and 6 and 12 months after starting) after the canine-assisted therapy intervention were smaller and less dispersed. The total score for the QUALID scale decreased significantly (p < 0.05) at 6 and 12 months after starting therapy. An analysis by item revealed that the scores of all of them fell during the course of the therapy.DiscussionOur study provides evidence of the significant benefits of canine-assisted therapy for quality of life in people with Alzheimer’s disease.
Highlights
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), dementia affects approximately 47.5 million people in the world, and 7.7 million new cases are diagnosed every year (World Health Organization, 2018)
This study adhered to the ethical standards established by the committee of institutional and/or national research, the Helsinki Declaration of 1964, its subsequent amendments, and comparable ethical standards (Declaración de Helsinki de la Asociación, 1964)
Given that the participants presented severe cognitive decline, informed consent was signed by their families
Summary
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), dementia affects approximately 47.5 million people in the world, and 7.7 million new cases are diagnosed every year (World Health Organization, 2018). In the period 1990–2008, around 600,000 people in Spain were diagnosed with dementia, of whom 400,000 were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease (De Pedro-Cuesta et al, 2009), exerting a significant impact on families, costs, and health and welfare services. The goal of the Global Action Plan on the public health response to dementia 2017–2025 (World Health Organization, 2018) is to improve the lives of people with. Canine Therapy in Alzheimer’s Disease dementia, their careers, and families, while decreasing the impact of dementia on communities and countries, which represents a major challenge due to worldwide population aging. With the aim of improving the quality of life of people with Alzheimer’s disease, primarily as regards behavioral and psychological symptoms, we implemented canine-assisted therapy in a group of people with this disease
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