[nagdu] Guide Dogs for the Mind

Nicole B. Torcolini at Home ntorcolini at wavecable.com
Tue Feb 21 19:23:32 UTC 2012 

Interesting. I know that this is getting slightly off topic, but what do you 
do about the litter box? How much do the food dispensers cost, and where do 
you get them.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Meghan Whalen" <mewhalen at gmail.com>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, February 21, 2012 8:34 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Guide Dogs for the Mind


> They do make such devices already.  I have one to feed my cat when I am 
> out of town for an extended period of time.  You can select how much food 
> you want it to dispense and how often.  Pretty nifty little gadgets.  As 
> for remembering to take the dog out etc, one could easily have an alarm 
> set...
>
> Meghan
>
> On 2/21/2012 8:47 AM, Mark J. Cadigan wrote:
>> Cindy,
>>
>> Does something like that exist? It could possibly be a fun design project 
>> for one of my engineering classes.
>>
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Cindy Ray" <cindyray at gmail.com>
>> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Tuesday, February 21, 2012 9:41 AM
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Guide Dogs for the Mind
>>
>>
>>> YHou really can't technologize everything though. Sounds interesting 
>>> enough. Reminds me of the story, "There Will Come Soft Rains."
>>>
>>> Cindy
>>>
>>> On Feb 21, 2012, at 8:12 AM, Mark J. Cadigan wrote:
>>>
>>>> Possibly, the dog food would be in an automatic dispensing device on a 
>>>> timer.  The water boll could also have a reservoir it refills from.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> To go out to releave it could have a doggy door.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Julie J." <julielj at neb.rr.com>
>>>> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
>>>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>>> Sent: Tuesday, February 21, 2012 8:55 AM
>>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Guide Dogs for the Mind
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> Okay, I'm all for any sort of service dog that can help with any sort 
>>>>> of disabling condition. I think we've barely scratched the surface of 
>>>>> what dogs can be taught to do.
>>>>>
>>>>> But...there is one serious concern I have with this project.  If the 
>>>>> individuals cannot remember to take their medications, how are they 
>>>>> going to remember to give their dog, food, water, let the dog out to 
>>>>> relieve or give the dog his medication if the need should arise?
>>>>>
>>>>> Julie
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On 2/21/2012 7:37 AM, Steven Johnson wrote:
>>>>>> Guide dogs for the mind: The retrievers being trained to give 
>>>>>> dementia sufferers a new life
>>>>>>
>>>>>> By George Arbuthnott
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> First there were guide dogs for the blind, then hearing dogs for the 
>>>>>> deaf. Now man’s best friend could help to care for people suffering 
>>>>>> from dementia.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Golden retrievers and labradors are being taught to remind people to 
>>>>>> take their tablets, raise the alarm in an emergency, assist with 
>>>>>> undressing and help out around the home.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Under the ‘Dementia Dog’ project the animals are trained to respond 
>>>>>> to an alarm that goes off whenever a person who is struggling with 
>>>>>> memory loss needs to take medication.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>  The dogs will be taught to help people undress by gently pulling on 
>>>>>> gloves, socks and sleeves
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The dog then clenches its mouth around the medicine, stored in a 
>>>>>> bite-proof bag, and carries it to the sufferer.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Animals can also be taught to recognise a specific movement that 
>>>>>> their owner would make when in distress.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The dog would then either press an emergency button on a telephone or 
>>>>>> bark loudly to raise the alarm.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> And dogs can learn to open cupboards, drawers, fridges and washing 
>>>>>> machines, flick light switches, and even help people suffering from 
>>>>>> dementia to undress.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Experts say the animals can be trained to carry out any task that 
>>>>>> requires a pulling motion. So if a short rope is attached to a 
>>>>>> cupboard door, the dog can open it.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> When it comes to helping with undressing, the dogs are trained to 
>>>>>> pull at the sleeve of a coat or tug off socks.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> So far the project has been given £52,000 of Government funding, but 
>>>>>> needs to raise a further £130,000 to launch a pilot scheme later this 
>>>>>> year.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Eventually, it is hoped the initiative will allow many more of the 
>>>>>> 750,000 Britons who suffer from dementia to retain their independence 
>>>>>> for longer.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The dogs will undergo a six-month training programme using ‘positive 
>>>>>> reinforcement’, which means that whenever they complete a task 
>>>>>> correctly, they get a treat.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> If the scheme, developed by voluntary organisation Alzheimer 
>>>>>> Scotland, gains funding, it will be the first time that dogs have 
>>>>>> been used to assist those with dementia.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>  A piece of string can be attached to handles so that doors and 
>>>>>> cupboards can be opened
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The organisation’s deputy director, Joyce Gray, said: ‘We are really 
>>>>>> hopeful the dogs will not only be a huge practical help but also 
>>>>>> provide great emotional support.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> ‘People with the condition can easily become isolated and the dog 
>>>>>> will be a constant companion, which will help them to keep social.’
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Sufferers of early-stage dementia are now being urged to suggest 
>>>>>> other ways the dogs could improve their lives.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The feedback will be incorporated into the pilot scheme once the 
>>>>>> funding is raised.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Four students at Glasgow School of Art came up with the idea after 
>>>>>> Alzheimer Scotland challenged the college to suggest an innovative 
>>>>>> way to improve the lives of dementia sufferers.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The concept was pitched to the Design Council, which in partnership 
>>>>>> with the Department of  Health was offering funding for projects that 
>>>>>> helped those with early-stage dementia.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The Dementia Dogs scheme has now gained the backing of charities Dogs 
>>>>>> For The Disabled and Guide Dogs, which already provide dogs with 
>>>>>> similar skills to help those with physical disabilities.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The number of people with dementia is set to hit one million by 2021 
>>>>>> and 1.7 million by 2050. It is believed that six out of ten of those 
>>>>>> with the condition are undiagnosed.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Sufferers of dementia and their relatives are urged to suggest ways 
>>>>>> that dogs could help them via the website dementiadog.org.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
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>>>>>
>>>>>
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>
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