Animals and Their Impact in Long Term Care

1. Animals and Their Impact in Long Term Care Presenter- Debbra Petersen, CTRS Recreation Wellbeing Consultant Good Samaritan Society -National Campus

2. Objective • Understanding the value that animals and pets provide in long term care settings. • Recognize the benefits for activity programs and person centered care that utilize and encourage animal involvement. The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society

3. Presenter Information • CTRS- Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist • Currently employed as a Recreation Wellbeing Consultant for Good Samaritan Society at NC • Worked as a Recreation Therapist in long term care for over 22 yrs. • Various settings / Background in LTC • Dementia Units • Hospice Settings • Short Term Rehab./ Acute Stay • Skilled Nursing /Post Acute • Senior Living/Assisted Living • Non profit and profit settings The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society

4. Therapeutic Recreation Director • Plan and implement leisure activities to help improve the functional skills of their patients. • The ultimate goal is to get the patient to overcome social, emotional, and environmental barriers so they can develop and maintain a fulfilling lifestyle • Identify residents interest and preference for leisure and individual activity. • Goal is providing person center care to enhance ones wellbeing. The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society

5. Recreation Therapy • Recreational therapy includes, but is not limited to, providing treatment services and recreation activities to individuals using a variety of techniques including arts and crafts, animals, sports, games, dance and movement, drama, music, and community outings. Recreational therapists treat and help maintain the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of their clients by seeking to reduce depression, stress, and anxiety; recover basic motor functioning and reasoning abilities; build confidence; and socialize effectively. The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society

6. Identify the Resident’s Needs Assessment begins upon admission • CMS- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, CMS, is part of the Department of Health and Human Services. • Minimum Data Set (MDS) – A core set of screening, clinical and functional status elements, including common definitions and coding categories that form the foundation of a comprehensive assessment for all residents of nursing homes certified to participate in Medicare or Medicaid. The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society

7. F0500: Interview for Activity Preferences The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society

8. Sec F: Health-Related Quality of Life • Activities are a way for individuals to establish meaning in their lives, and the need for enjoyable activities and pastimes does not change on admission to a nursing home. • A lack of opportunity to engage in meaningful and enjoyable activities can result in boredom, depression, and behavior disturbances. • Individuals vary in the activities they prefer, reflecting unique personalities, past interests, perceived environmental constraints, religious and cultural background, and changing physical and mental abilities. The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society

9. Sec F: Planning for Care • These questions will be useful for designing individualized care plans that facilitate residents’ participation in activities they find meaningful. • Preferences may change over time and extend beyond those included here. Therefore, the assessment of activity preferences is intended as a first step in an ongoing informal dialogue between the care provider and resident. • As with daily routines, responses may provide insights into perceived functional, emotional, and sensory support needs. The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society

10. Personal Reflection • Challenge you to assess your own interest. • Many of you attending have personal interests in your life that identify who you are or is important to you. • I believe some of you attending this conference value animals, their needs, or may have a passion for them in your life. • If you have personal pet at home, think about what that pet provides you regarding your wellbeing. Imagine the value it adds to you and your joy everyday… • Would that be something you would miss if it wasn’t around or removed from your surroundings? The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society

11. Benefits of Pets There are many benefits of being around animals and what they add to our life. The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society

12. Physical Benefits • Lowers blood pressure • Improve cardiovascular health • Releases endorphins that have a calming effect The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society

13. The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society The act of petting produces and automatic relaxation response, reducing the amount of medication some people need.

14. Diminishes the Overall Physical Pain The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society

15. Motivation Towards Therapy • Increases joint movement • Improves recovery time • Maintains or increases motor skills • Provides motivation to move more, stretch farther, exercise longer The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society

16. Farm Cats and Walter The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society

17. Pug and the Delivery Man The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society

18. “The Red Dish” The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society

19. The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society Improved Speech and Mobility

20. Mental & Emotional Benefits • Reduces boredom • Decreases anxiety • Reduces loneliness • Provides comfort The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society

21. The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society Lift Spirits and Lessen Depression

22. The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society Encourages Communication

23. Mental Stimulation The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society

24. The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society Shifting of focus

25. Provides Reminiscing • Engages memory • Awakens a disconnect The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society

26. Decrease Feelings of Isolation and Alienation The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society

27. Connects Staff & Residents Buddy’s Story The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society

28. Hospice Patient Humane Society – Lap Cat The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society

29. The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society Increases Socialization and Sense of Community

30. Person Centered Experience The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society

31. Are animals able to sense? • Dying Patients • Bell Practice / Personalities The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society

32. Pets Enhance Programming • Theme Days • Entertainment • Mustache Social • Halloween Party The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society

33. The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society Special Events

34. Educational Program • K9 Presentation The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society

35. The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society Celebrate Birthdays

36. The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society 4H Programs and Events -Llamas -Cattle -Horses -Ducks -Rabbits -Goats/ Sheep -Pigs

37. Pets Increase Participation Development of Empathy The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society

38. The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society Dementia patients that nursed abandoned kittens back to health. (Nov. 23, 2016 / oversixty.com)

39. Fish Aquariums The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society

40. Bird Aviary The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society

41. Policies Pertaining to Animals /Highlights PURPOSE • To provide procedures to promote the safety of building occupants when animals are present at a Good Samaritan Society location • To restrict access for animals in food preparation and designated dining areas GENERAL PROCEDURE • Employees will wash their hands after any contact with animals and before having any contact with residents, equipment, food, etc. • Animals are not permitted in areas where food is prepared or being served, in laundry • areas, in clean supply storage areas and in medication preparation areas. • Pets can be in the common dining areas at times other than during meals as long as: • Any incident of biting or scratching by an animal should be reported to the location management or designated employee and others as required by local statute. • Animal urine and waste should be disposed of and the affected area should be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized as soon as possible. The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society

42. The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society • Rehabilitation/skilled care and assisted living locations should update care plans and resident service plans for residents who may be allergic to animals, scared of animals or who may benefit from animal contacts. • Veterinary records of Society-owned animal(s) will be available for inspection in the business office. Owners of non-Society-owned animals will have current shot / vaccination records available when the animal is on the premises. • Animals should be healthy, clean and negative for enteric parasites or, if a condition exists, have documentation by a veterinarian that the animal is safe to be around people. Society Location-Owned Animals • For all animals in Society locations, all federal, state and local regulations should be followed. • For example, some states may require proof of vaccination for animals used in therapeutic • programming. • 1. Animals should be fed only in designated areas. • 2. Animal food supplies should be stored away from resident and child access. • 3. Precautions should be taken to mitigate allergic responses to animals: • a. Control animal dander by bathing the animal frequently. • b. Groom animals frequently to remove loose hair to minimize shedding. • 4. Establish a schedule for cleaning fish tanks, bird aviaries and any other animal • dwellings.

43. Pets that Live in the Facility The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society

44. Leave a Legacy The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society

45. Programs and Organizations that Support Animals in LTC • Helping Therapy Dogs / Puppy Paws -Local groups • Living Design Bird Aviary- Regional Company • Custom Aquarium • Humane Society • Mending Spirits – Animal Rescue/ Shelters • Pet Partners • EDEN ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM –Certified Program transforming the "dying" atmosphere of nursing homes to a "living" atmosphere that hosts gardens, animals, and children, along with elder involvement in their own care, choice, empowerment and activities that provide mind stimulation The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society

46. Toby –Heritage Horses The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society

47. Credits • https://nctrc.org/about-ncrtc/about-recreational-therapy/ • http://www.programsforelderly.com/documentaries-familycaregiving.php • reeftectonics.com/PDF/Elderly&Aquariums.pdf • https:/www.goldencareres.com/10-benefits-of pet-therapy • http://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/2016/11/dementia-patients-are-nursing-abandoned-kittens-back-to-health • http://www.4cnas.com/TheBenefitsofPetTherapyinLongTermCareCenters.html • https://nctrc.org/about-ncrtc/about-recreational-therapy/ The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society