Interacting with animals can have many benefits for a person with dementia including physical, social, emotional, motivational and cognitive benefits while reducing anxiety and depression.

Animal-assisted, or pet engagement aims to provide pleasure and relaxation for the person living with dementia.

This helpsheet outlines how engaging with animals can help the person with dementia express their emotions, feel validated, provide an opportunity for reminiscence and more.

Not all people with dementia will benefit from this intervention and this guide describes who is likely to benefit – including those that previously had pets, some guidelines around best-practice use of pet engagement and risk management.