One topic I haven't seen raised yet on your site is pets and the Alzheimer's patient. Do they help? Can they absorb some of the emotional swings the Alz. patient experiences? Do they tend to frustrate and create more anxiety?
I know personally that my parents moved into our home with both of their dogs. I've tried to leave the caring for the dogs to my mother (Alz) because she expresses a great need for some purpose in her life and caring for her dogs is all she has left. But...unfortunately...she forgets. They go without food, make messes in my house, are disruptive. She finds great comfort in their presence, but at the same time great annoyance at having to do things for them. Any help out there?