Evaluation of a Dog Assisted Activity for Dementia. 1.0.
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Cognition, Mood and Quality of Life in People Living with Dementia: A Mixed Methods Evaluation of a Dog Assisted Activity.
IRAS ID
364001
Contact name
Holly-Ann Upshall
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Surrey
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 8 months, 30 days
Research summary
The current study aims to explore the outcomes and experiences of a Dogs for Good dog assisted activity for people living with dementia, caregivers and dog handlers in care homes/supported housing with extra care. The research seeks to provide insights into the impact of the activity session on areas of the individuals life that are known to deteriorate with dementia, specifically cognition, mood and quality of life. The research also seeks to explore how people living with dementia experience the activity session, for example, how they feel about the intervention, what they liked and what they think might be able to be improved. Furthermore, the research also hopes to understand how the activity sessions are experienced by carers within the care home/supported housing with extra care and the dog handler facilitating the activity session, both of whom may partake in the activity and who may observe the residents taking part and can improve care or service delivery.
The study is anticipated to last for one year and nine months. Care home/supported housing with extra care residents living with dementia who have capacity to consent, their care staff, and the dog handler will participate in a dog assisted activity session, following which they will complete a short interview. Residents will also complete pre and post activity session standardised measures on mood, cognition, and quality of life, and will be observed during the activity session. The study will take place across one care home and one supported housing with extra care centre identified by Dogs for Good.
Should this exploratory study find the activity to have a positive impact, then the dog assisted activity sessions could be developed into a manualised intervention in the future, the impact of which may be explored within a larger piece of work.REC name
London - Camberwell St Giles Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/LO/0905
Date of REC Opinion
3 Feb 2026
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion