Former racing greyhounds will be spreading joy inside nursing homes, including residents living with dementia, in an Australian first program.
“Dogs can have a wonderful, calming effect for someone with dementia. I have seen how quickly they can calm agitation,” Susan Kurrle, senior research fellow of HammondCare, said.
The independent Christian charity is collaborating with Greyhound Rescue, the only greyhound rescue facility of its kind in Australia, on a pilot program aimed at improving aged care residents’ quality of life through decreasing loneliness and depression, increasing physical activity and improving socialisation.
The hounds received not only training to prepare them for the sights, sounds, activities, and equipment such as wheelchairs and trolleys but also communication techniques to facilitate meaningful connections between them and the residents….