Service Dogs Helping Disabled Veterans by Providing a Better Quality of Life
Post Date:September 26, 2017
Under the ADA, a service dog is defined as a dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability. The task(s) performed by the dog must be directly related to the veteran's disability.
Promotion of Functional Ability and Independence
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Assistance Dogs complete essential tasks so a person with a disability can return to the community, increase independence and improve their quality of life
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People can live alone and improve and maintain functional ability
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Dog provides help with Activities of Daily Living (ADL’s) such as shopping tasks, fine motor tasks. This leads to less wear and tear on the body
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Decrease the amount of family and hired caregiver hours required by providing concrete physical assistant
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Bringing peace of mind to loved ones of person with disability
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Increased sense of security. Retrieve phone or caregiver. Get help, pull cords
Psychosocial barriers reduced
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Promote improved social interactions
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Promote increased participation in community-based activities.
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A person with disability seems more approachable to others
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Allows the person with disabilities to gain confidence in community reintegration situations
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Decrease loneliness and depression, the dog becomes someone to interact with, a companion, part of the family. Creates a purpose.
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A calming effect; allows the person with disabilities to focus on another not themselves
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Care of the dog decreases stress and anxiety. It provides a sense of responsibility and a daily routine
Physical Barriers Reduced
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Provides physiologic benefits such as lowering blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides, and decreased heart rate
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Enhanced levels of dopamine and endorphins, decreased levels of stress hormone cortisol
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The physical warmth and compression of the dog laying on/near you reduces perceived pain levels
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Motivates to adopt long term behavior changes that lead to weight loss and positive health outcomes
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People with disabilities exercise more by taking dogs for a walk, fetch, and grooming activities.
*Information provided by Paws with a Cause: https://www.pawswithacause.org/
*For more information please visit K9 for Warriors, a nonprofit organization devoted to placing service dogs with disabled veterans: https://www.k9sforwarriors.org/