‘It calms me down’: Dog therapy helps those with memory loss diseases

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A North Carolina woman and dog lover discovered how helpful therapy pets can be for those suffering from memory loss completely by accident. 

Joan Wright first found this form of therapy when it helped her father. She said he had a larger-than-life personality until showing signs of dementia. 

“One day I noticed that when he was with his Cavalier King Charles [Spaniel] dog on his lap, he was a lot calmer and that calmed me down. And I would sit down, and we would have dog talk because that’s what he would be able to talk about,” Wright said.

She takes her two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Oliver and Brodie, into Memory & Movement Charlotte for a special visit. Staff members rush to greet these furry friends.

“One doesn’t want the other to get any more attention,” Wright said.

These playful pups are here specifically for people like Laurie Purvis. She was just diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease this year.

“Finding out I had Alzheimer’s just like absolutely blew my mind. I was so upset,” Purvis said. But she says interacting with a dog helps her to relax.

“It calms me down to sit there and pet the dog,” Purvis said.

It’s something her sister and now caregiver, Kathleen Purvis, says helps her too.

“My dog, you know, curls in and makes me feel better when I’m scared to death about all of this,” she said.

People with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia are known to lose their memories and have trouble communicating. But dog therapy is showing promise in making them feel calm and connected. Those stories are why Wright does this work.

The CEO of Memory & Movement Charlotte, Janet LeClair, said this kind of connection is more important than you’d think.

“Even with pet therapy, there is a strong element of socialization. And so feeling that connection to people, to engagement is probably the most important thing for people and for their quality of life,” LeClair said.

“It’s not about sort of curing the disease. It’s about creating moments of joy when they’re around a dog,” Wright said.

Wright said Oliver and Brodie are professionals. They go through intensive behavioral training to prepare them to respond safely in unfamiliar settings, like a medical office. She said if you or someone who know wants to have a dog therapy visit, you can click here.