Pam Osbourne, Naperville

CONNECTIONS: ANIMAL ASSISTED THERAPY FOR ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE AND RELATED DIMENTIAS

Rufus is Pam Osbourne’s therapy dog. Together, they visit hospitals to provide affection and comfort to patients. When Pam’s mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease, it was the connection she had with Rufus that made a light bulb go off for Pam. “My mom was given some functional fitness rehab exercises and Rufus was able to provide motivation by doing the exercises with her,” says Pam. “Not only did SHE benefit, but other residents in her community were encouraged by Rufus to move, talk and communicate.” Inspired by what Rufus and her mom accomplished together, Pam was driven to write, Connections: Animal Assisted Therapy for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias, a user-friendly guide for Animal Assisted Therapy teams, health care professionals, family members, and caregivers. A major portion of the book is devoted to specific activities that can be used to stimulate cognition, reinforce motor skills and create meaningful interactions. It includes over 40 Animal Assisted Therapy Activities and 150 color photographs. It is set in the context of a sometimes funny, sometimes heart-breaking story line that describes Pam’s own personal journey with her mom and Rufus.Connections: Animal Assisted Therapy for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias is available online through Amazon and Barnes and Noble and Pam’s website, pyowpublishing.webs.com. –Mindy Kyle

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