How Service Dogs Help with Essential Tremors
Service dogs are specifically trained to assist individuals with Essential Tremor by performing tasks that help alleviate its impact on daily life. Common tasks they perform include retrieving dropped items, opening doors, turning lights on and off, and providing balance support. Larger breeds, such as Labradors and Golden Retrievers, are often selected for these roles.

For individuals with essential tremors, a service dog can take on various physical tasks, significantly reducing the challenges posed by fine motor difficulties. Some specific tasks these dogs typically perform include:
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  • Retrieval: Picking up dropped keys, phones, wallets, or medication bottles so the handler does not have to bend down or struggle to grasp a small object. 
  • Mobility Support: Using specialized harnesses to provide counterbalance or a "brace" to prevent falls on stairs or while walking. 
  • Environmental Manipulation: Opening/closing doors, pushing buttons, and operating light switches with their nose or paws to minimize the physical effort of traversing a home.
  • Emergency Assistance: Being trained to push a medical alert button, dial 9-1-1 on specially adapted phones, or fetch a phone. 
  • Stability: Helping the handler stand up from a seated position or get up after a fall. 

​Finding and Securing a Service Dog

Legitimate service dog training takes an average of 1.5 to 2 years and can cost $20,000 to $40,000 if sourced through a professional organization. You have two main pathways to acquire a service dog: 
  1. Apply to a Professional Organization: Look into programs like Canine Companions or Paws With A Cause, which evaluate applicants for physical disabilities and train dogs specifically for mobility and in-home assistance. 
  2. Owner-Training with a Professional: You can acquire a suitable puppy and hire a private, certified service dog trainer (e.g., through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers) to guide the dog through public access and task-specific training. ​

Does Medicare pay for service dogs?

​No, Medicare does not pay for the purchase, training, or ongoing care (such as food and veterinary bills) of a service dog. Medicare classifies service animals as personal expenses rather than medical equipment. 
While traditional Medicare does not cover these costs, you have several alternative avenues and resources to explore:
  • Medicaid Waivers: While standard Medicaid does not cover service animals, some states allow for service dog coverage through Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waivers. To find your local agency and check the specific waiver programs available in your state, consult the Medicaid directory.
  • Tax Deductions: According to the IRS, you may be eligible to deduct the costs associated with purchasing, training, and maintaining a service dog as a medical ​expense on your income taxes. Consult your tax advisor.
  • Veterans Affairs (VA):  If you are a veteran, the VA may cover the costs of a service dog and provide benefits for veterinary care and equipment for dogs obtained through a VA-approved program.
  • State Assistance Programs:  Some states offer specific financial assistance to help offset the costs of a service dog. For instance, California provides the Assistance Dog Special Allowance Program to help cover food and healthcare expenses.
While no one breeds and trains service dogs exclusively for essential tremor at zero cost, you can acquire a highly subsidized or free dog from several organizations that train dogs for mobility and neurological disorders. These dogs are trained to pick up dropped items, open doors, turn on lights, and brace for balance. 
To find and apply for a free or heavily subsidized service dog, explore the following organizations:​
  • Canine Companions: This is one of the largest providers of service dogs in the country. They provide highly trained assistance dogs to adults with disabilities at no cost. 
  • Paws With A Cause: They custom-train service dogs nationwide for individuals with mobility and physical limitations. You can apply directly through their official site. 
  • Freedom Service Dogs: Based in Colorado but serving broader needs, they train custom service dogs to help with mobility, retrieve dropped items, and open doors. ​
Diann Shaddox Foundation for Essential Tremor