Page 22 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, MARCH 7, 2025 Sa nir Sa a y Senior Seni by Jim Miller Service Dogs Can Help Seniors with Disabilities Dear Savvy Senior, What can you tell me about service dogs for seniors with disabilities? My 67-year-old father has chronic arthritis and Parkinson’s disease, and I’m wondering if an assistance dog could help make his life a little easier. Dog Loving Leah Dear Leah, For people with disabilities and even medical conditions, service dogs can be fantastic help, not to mention they provide great companionship and an invaluable sense of security. But be aware that service dogs can be very expensive to purchase and the waiting list to get one can be long. Here’s what you should know. While most people are familiar with guide dogs that help people who are blind or visually impaired, there are also a variety of assistance dogs trained to help people with physical disabilities, hearing loss and various medical conditions. Unlike most pets, assistance dogs are highly trained canine specialists – often Golden and Labrador Retrievers, and German Shepherds – that know approximately 40 to 50 commands, are amazingly well-behaved and calm, and are permitted to go anywhere the public is allowed. Here’s a breakdown of the diff erent types of assistance dogs and what they can help with. Service dogs: These dogs are specially trained to help people with physical disabilities due to multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injuries, Parkinson’s disease, chronic arthritis and many other disabling conditions. They help by performing tasks their owner cannot do or has trouble doing, like carrying or retrieving items, picking up dropped items, opening and closing doors, turning light switches on and off , helping with balance, assisting with household chores, barking to indicate that help is needed and more. Service dogs can also be trained to help people with medical conditions like epilepsy or other seizure disorders, autism, diabetes, PTSD and other psychiatric disabilities. Guide dogs: For the blind and visually impaired, guide dogs help their owner get around safely by avoiding obstacles, stopping at curbs and steps, navigate shopping centers and buildings, fi nd doors, seats, pedestrian crossing buttons and more. Hearing dogs: For those who are deaf or hearing impaired, hearing dogs can alert their owner to specifi c sounds such as ringing phones, doorbells, alarm clocks, microwave or oven timers, smoke alarms, approaching sirens, crying babies or when someone calls out their name. Finding a Dog If your dad is interested in getting a service dog, contact some credible assistance dog training programs. To fi nd them, use the Assistance Dogs International website (AssistanceDogsInternational.org) which provides a listing of around 80 accredited members and 25 candidate programs in North America. After you locate a few, you’ll need to either visit their website or call them to fi nd out the types of training dogs they offer, the areas they serve, how long their waiting list is and what they charge. Most dog training programs charge anywhere from $10,000 to $40,000 or more for a fully trained service dog, however, most programs can assist with fundraising or grant applications for those in need. None of that cost is covered by health insurance or Medicare. To get an assistance dog, your dad will need to show proof of his disability, which his physician can provide, and he’ll have to complete an application and go through an interview process. He will also need to go and stay at the training facility for a week or two so he can get familiar with his dog and get training on how to handle it. It’s also important to understand that assistance dogs are not for everybody. They require time, money, and care that your dad or some other friend or family member must be able and willing to provide. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. nior ior ANTIQUE SHOW | FROM PAGE 20 card or copy of this article, print or electronic) and benefits the Malden Historical Society. Anthony’s will have lunch and beverages available for purchase, so everyone can make a day of it. Anthony’s is located at 105 Canal OP-ED | FROM PAGE 4 refl ects our broader mission to provide students with academic rigor and athletic opportunities that will help them succeed regardless of their future path. The success of our athletics is rooted in several key factors. First, our small school model allows us to off er personalized attention and tailored programs. With fewer students, we can be more fl exible and adapt to each individual’s needs, whether that means providing extra academic support or focusing on their athletic development. We can push hard in one area and pull back when necessary in another, ensuring students can balance their academic work and athletic commitments. Another reason for our success is the dedication of our coaching staff . We’ve brought in outside coaches who’ve raised the bar significantly. These coaches help our student-athletes see what high-level competition looks St. in Malden, has ample free parking, is a two-block walk from the MBTA Orange Line’s Malden Center Station and is wheelchair accessible – with all dealers on one fl oor. The Malden Historical Society is a local, volunteer-run, nonprofit organization founded in 1886 and like and encourage them to match that intensity. These coaches have instilled in our players a more competitive mindset and a deeper, profound commitment to practice and preparation. Our student-athletes now understand what it takes to compete at the highest level, and they’re doing it. Finally, the family-like atmosphere created at PCSS and PCSS II encourages students to uplift and support one another in the classroom and on the fi eld. Our coaches, students, and staff are deeply committed to each other’s success. While we may not have the state-of-the-art facilities that some schools off er, we make up for it with determination, heart, and a relentless focus on improvement. This family spirit and our rigorous academic environment give students the tools they need to succeed. Having been at PCSS and PCSS II since their beginnings, it’s been incredibly fulfi lling to see how far we’ve come. From starting with just a few teams dedicated to collecting, preserving and disseminating the history of Malden and beyond – and fostering an appreciation of everyone’s history. To learn more about the Malden Historical Society, visit www.maldenhistoricalsociety.org or email info@ maldenhistoricalsociety.org. and minimal resources, our athletic programs have grown alongside our academic success. The stories of our alums returning to campus, sharing their successes in winning championships or excelling in their careers, are a testament to the potential and promise of our schools. These success stories are not just individual triumphs but collective achievements that we can all be proud of. All are reminders of why I do this work. Charter schools like PCSS and PCSS II are not just about providing a winning combination of academic excellence and athletic opportunity. We are committed to creating an environment where students can thrive, succeed in sports and academics, and are supported by a community that genuinely cares about their success. As our athletics continue to grow and our students achieve even more, I’m excited for what the future holds. We’re just getting started, and there’s no limit to what our students can accomplish.
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