Vårdhundens betydelse för personer med demens
At two nursing homes for people with dementia a qualitative study was performed. The purpose was to investigate the therapy dog?s meaning to people with dementia from their perspective. Two women and five men with dementia were interviewed, everyone being somewhere between 60 and 87 years of age. All but one had previously owned a dog at some point in their lives. From the content analysis four categories could be identified: activity, fellowship, friendship and without positive meaning. The therapy dog had different meanings to the different people. The therapy dog had a positive meaning to five of the interviewed participants. Most of the participants had a positive approach to the therapy dog. It was considered to be good company and a good friend, as well as something to play and interact with. Two of the participants did not consider the therapy dog to be of any particular meaning to them, one of them showing disinterest for the subject. Knowledge about attitude to and experience of dogs for persons with dementia during the healthy part of life is important in order to have a well-established therapy with therapy dogs.