Youyou is a bichon therapy dog in China whose visits to elder-care homes help people with Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive impairment reconnect through touch, names, memory and calm companionship.

China, therapy-dog visits to elder-care homes

Story

Beijing News described Youyou recognizing the cart that meant it was time to visit elder-care homes and work as a therapy dog.

The fuller story includes the training behind therapy dogs, memories awakened in elders with cognitive impairment, and the need to protect the dogs’ own welfare.

The archive keeps this story because it shows animal-assisted care in China as relationship, memory and responsibility rather than a simple “cute dog” anecdote.

Sources

• Beijing News report
• Sohu republication
• Luan News republication