Dementia dog sessions

A dementia dog initiative is holding information sessions in Dundee to help attract people who could benefit from the project.

The Dogs for Good and Alzheimer’s Scotland collaboration trains dogs to help assist people living with dementia and their fulltime carers.

Assistance dogs are trained and placed with couples who are still living at home, where one person is diagnosed with dementia and the other is their live-in carer – usually their spouse.

The dogs are trained to maintain a structured routine at home, act as a social connector, and provide emotional support for both the person with dementia and the carer.

Project manager Fiona Corner said the events would provide more detail on the scheme.

“They’re open to any couples or person with dementia and their carer and will let them find out more about the project and how the dog is trained to help,” she added.

The first event will be held today, from 2 to 4pm, in the Alzheimer Scotland resource centre on Morgan Street. A second session will be held on Friday, from 10.30amnoon, in the Central Library at the Wellgate.

An Arbroath couple who previously received an assistance dog under the scheme will also be on hand to answer questions today. Three dogs are being trained as part of the project and will be allocated to people in Dundee and the surrounding area.