One Health

June is Alzheimer's disease and brain awareness month! We have had a few very targeted adoption placements of senior cats at older adult living facilities. It has really been beneficial for the residents, the cats and the staff :)  One resident didn't know she was getting a cat, it was a surprise, and she LOVED it! She could not believe that this was going to be 'her' cat and she rearranged her room at least 3 times in the hour I was there, just to make sure it was safe for the cat.

She turned 97 a few days after getting the cat and those two have been inseparable ever since. When I was there to deliver her cat, she told me ALL about her cats she had when growing up, their names, their mannerisms, etc. It was AMAZING to see how excited she was about her new best friend, Bella and her memory recall of her cats growing up! (Also, I have really great partners in the area here for senior care facilities - and they see how the animals help.)

We will be digging in a bit more into memory care and animal therapy and the evidence supporting it. But, I would love to hear if you have any experience or similar good news stories with placement like this? Our local Walk to End Alzheimer's is at the end of September and I am thinking of sponsoring a few adoptable dogs to take part- they get out of the shelter, get exercise, get socialized and promoted, and we have more energy and excitement behind the walk. 

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Alycia Norton
President
PALS of PAWS in Saginaw County
MI
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Thank you for sharing this story @Alycia Norton! A win-win for all involved!

Check out Alzheimer's Disease: The Magic of Pets that talks about pets helping humans with Dementia or Alzheimer's.

Environmental pollutants are now regarded as significant risk factors for dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, by global health experts. 

The Alzheimer's Society wrote in February about "Can caring for a pet help a person with dementia?" And the article by the American Psychiatric Association "How Pets Can Protect Cognitive Health in Older Adults" has a list of great references you can use as your scientific supporting evidence. 

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T' Fisher, Director of Operations
Program for Pet Health Equity

Original Message:
Sent: 06-11-2025 05:55 PM
From: Alycia Norton
Subject: Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness month

June is Alzheimer's disease and brain awareness month! We have had a few very targeted adoption placements of senior cats at older adult living facilities. It has really been beneficial for the residents, the cats and the staff :)  One resident didn't know she was getting a cat, it was a surprise, and she LOVED it! She could not believe that this was going to be 'her' cat and she rearranged her room at least 3 times in the hour I was there, just to make sure it was safe for the cat.

She turned 97 a few days after getting the cat and those two have been inseparable ever since. When I was there to deliver her cat, she told me ALL about her cats she had when growing up, their names, their mannerisms, etc. It was AMAZING to see how excited she was about her new best friend, Bella and her memory recall of her cats growing up! (Also, I have really great partners in the area here for senior care facilities - and they see how the animals help.)

We will be digging in a bit more into memory care and animal therapy and the evidence supporting it. But, I would love to hear if you have any experience or similar good news stories with placement like this? Our local Walk to End Alzheimer's is at the end of September and I am thinking of sponsoring a few adoptable dogs to take part- they get out of the shelter, get exercise, get socialized and promoted, and we have more energy and excitement behind the walk. 

------------------------------
Alycia Norton
President
PALS of PAWS in Saginaw County
MI
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