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Pet Therapy in the Elderly

Pet Therapy in the Elderly. Introduction. Animal Assisted Therapy also known as Pet Therapy and/or AAT is the therapeutic use of animals to assist people with social, emotional, and cognitive functioning. Significance of Pet T herapy for Patients.

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Pet Therapy in the Elderly

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  1. Pet Therapy in the Elderly

  2. Introduction • Animal Assisted Therapy also known as Pet Therapy and/or AAT is the therapeutic use of animals to assist people with social, emotional, and cognitive functioning.

  3. Significance of Pet Therapy for Patients • Feelings of acceptance and develops a good rapport • Develops an outward focus • Creates a positive physiological, sociological, and emotional effects • Increases motivation in many patients • Encourages mental stimulation (recall memories) • Cost Effective • Faster recovery times have been found with research • There is an increase in patient and staff satisfaction

  4. Main issues related to the issue • Physical Benefits: • Research shows that therapy combined with pets may help benefit the patient in many ways including lowering blood pressure, lowering stress levels, lowering cholesterol levels, improving respiratory patterns, decreasing depression in those who are lonely, increasing oxygen levels, and decreasing patient pain. • Emotional Benefits: • Emotional benefits of animal therapy include lowering stress levels, amount of grief, loneliness, and fear within the patient. • While lowering levels that can become harmful to the body, other emotional benefits include the increase in confidence and self image.

  5. . . . . Continued • Social Benefits • Pets are found to introduce a clearer conversations as well as helping encourage communication between therapist and their patients. http://www.cbc.ca/news/yourcommunity/li_llamas_2.jpg

  6. Literature Support Long Term Evaluation of Animal-Assisted Therapy for Institutionalized People: a preliminary result. • Result: Scores for Intellectual Function, Spontaneity, Emotional Function decreased during the first 6 months but raised in the 6-12 month period and motor function raised during the 12 months. Also helped people with there behavioral problems. KAWAMURA, N., NIIYAMA, M., & NIIYAMA, H. (2007). Long-term evaluation of animal-assisted therapy for institutionalized elderly people: a preliminary result. Psychogeriatrics, 7(1), 8-13. doi:10.1111/j.1479-8301.2006.00156.x

  7. Literature Support The Effects of Animal Assisted Therapy on Communication and Social Skills: A Meta-Analysis • Looked at four other studies that were done and compared the results. • Result: Supports the positive effects of AAT procedures on specific variables, such as communication and social skills. Chitic, V., Rusu, A. S., & Szamoskozi, S. (2012). The Effects of Animal Assisted Therapy on Communication and Social Skills: A Meta-Analysis. Transylvanian Journal Of Psychology, 13(1), 1-17.

  8. Community Support • “Therapy Animals of Utah” • - registered therapy animals • Specific guidelines • Many hospitals & facilities in Utah provide pet therapy or allow visitation of pets • Highland Care Center • Friendship Manor • U of U Hospital

  9. How Nurses Can have an Impact • Educate patients about the benefits. • Encourage patients to have own animals come and visit if possible. • Educate facilities if they are not aware . • Preform therapy. • Spread the word. • Explain the benefits. http://035313a.netsolhost.com/PurringPost/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Nursing-Home-FINAL-300x288.jpg

  10. Summary/Conclusion how well we think it works based on findings • We believe that pet therapy is very beneficial to the elderly, and would recommend it to our patients. • Has a positive impact on social, emotional, and cognitive functioning in the elderly. • Can assist with the healing process and have a positive impact on the elderly. • It provides various emotional, physical, and social benefits. • There are studies to support the positive impact therapy animals have on the elderly. • Your pet can become a registered therapy animal.

  11. Exam Question • Pet therapy is shown to be a beneficial means of therapy in the elderly population. Which of the following is NOT a benefit of pet therapy. • A. lowered stress levels • B. improved motor ability • C. decreased blood glucose • D. increased O2 levels • E. Increased staff satisfaction

  12. Exam Answer • C. • Rational: while pets assist the elderly in many ways they do not have an effect on the blood sugar levels of the patient. https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQxartoRJtsZwGoOqZF3NqDhdCIr9YIseFh_Nv4IXXVS00lK_QL

  13. Literature Support References Chitic, V., Rusu, A. S., & Szamoskozi, S. (2012). The Effects of Animal Assisted Therapy on Communication and Social Skills: A Meta-Analysis. Transylvanian Journal Of Psychology, 13(1), 1-17. KAWAMURA, N., NIIYAMA, M., & NIIYAMA, H. (2007). Long-term evaluation of animal-assisted therapy for institutionalized elderly people: a preliminary result. Psychogeriatrics, 7(1), 8-13. doi:10.1111/j.1479-8301.2006.00156.x

  14. Other References • http://www.cbc.ca/news/yourcommunity/li_llamas_2.jpg • https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQxartoRJtsZwGoOqZF3NqDhdCIr9YIseFh_Nv4IXXVS00lK_QL • http://035313a.netsolhost.com/PurringPost/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Nursing-Home-FINAL-300x288.jpg

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