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Supporting the Human Animal Bond for Your Patients

Learn how the Pet Peace of Mind program helps vulnerable populations by supporting the relationship between patients and their pets. Discover the benefits, research on the human-animal bond, and why pets matter. Find out the impact on health, coping with illness, and quality of life. ###

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Supporting the Human Animal Bond for Your Patients

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  1. Supporting the Human Animal Bond for Your Patients

  2. Presenter Christy Bork Pet Peace of Mind Program Manager christybork@petpeaceofmind.org

  3. About Pet Peace of Mind • National nonprofit organization based in Oregon • Ten year old program • Strategic partnership with NHPCO • Program partners in 40 states • Open to any organization assisting vulnerable populations

  4. Our Vision Elevate the conversation about the importance of patients’ pets in their lives and help healthcare organizations understand how to help with pet care.

  5. What does a Pet Peace of Mind program do? Pet Peace of Mind programs are designed to help pets stay with their owners. We train hospices, home health agencies, and hospitals how to help patients with personalized pet care needs by executing our volunteer driven model.

  6. Pet Care Program vs Pet Therapy • Pet care programs focus on providing care for patients’ own pets • Pet therapy programs focus on providing an unknown pet to interact with patients

  7. Pet Ownership in 2018 • 68% of US households have at least one pet • 40% of adults over age 70 own a pet

  8. Why Do Pets Matter? APPA National Pet Owners Survey Owners say special bond with their pets • Companionship, love, company and affection are the number one benefits to owning a pet Pets were characterized as: • Best friend, companion, like a child or member of the family by most of those surveyed

  9. Cricket

  10. Why Do Pets Matter? • Pets provide a significant source of unconditional love and acceptance for owners • Pets provide stability, routine and a sense of normalcy during life transitions • Pets also provide a sense of responsibility and purpose outside of self

  11. Ollie

  12. Why Do Pets Matter? • Animals are often symbols for owners • They may represent relationships, past or present • They may represent children of childless couples or empty nest adults • They may be the only social outlet or interaction a patient or family member has

  13. Jack, Ruby & Daisy

  14. The Human-Animal Bond • Defined by the American Veterinary Medical Association as: “A mutually beneficial and dynamic relationship between people and other animals that is influenced by behaviors that are essential to the health and well-being of both. This includes but is not limited to, emotional, psychological, and physical interactions of people, other animals, and the environment.

  15. The Human-Animal Bond • An international area of research in human medicine, veterinary medicine and sociology • Investigators attempt to measure the impact of pets on human health, quality of life, ability to cope with life transitions, disease, aging, etc.

  16. The Human-Animal Bond Attributes of pets that strengthen the human-animal bond • Unconditional acceptance • Constancy and faithfulness regardless of changing life conditions • Total dependence on owners/caregivers • Provides comfort through predictable behavior and demeanor

  17. Health Benefits of Pet Ownership • Long term survival study of coronary patients (92 patients followed for 1 year) • #1 variable was amount of myocardial damage • #2 variable was pet ownership! • Related to substantial drop in hr/blood pressure when interacting with pets • 995 elders (65-93 y.o.) followed for one year • Pet owners maintained higher ADL scores compared to non-pet owners

  18. Health Benefits of Pet Ownership 1054 elders (65+) followed for one year • Pet owners had shorter hospital stays and lower average costs 64 Alzheimer’s patients • Compared groups exposed to dogs vs. those with no contact • Cognitive decline the same, but decreased verbal aggression and anxiety, fewer mood disorders in those exposed to pets; increased social interactions with each other and staff

  19. Bella

  20. Pets and Life Transitions Five widows who lost husbands <1 year • Dogs provided substantial comfort because they were a shared part of their relationship • Dogs provided a safe place to grieve; total acceptance • Dogs provided qualities of a “best friend,” as in listening, physical contact and empathy without responding inappropriately.

  21. Pets and Terminal Illness Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center • Presence of cats and dogs in homes of cancer patients • Pets helped caregivers feel better when sad; provided sense of routine and normalcy to household • Caregivers did not feel that pet care was an additional burden even though caring for spouse • Cancer patients themselves felt that pets helped them cope with illness • Helped children cope by providing affection and a place to confide their feelings

  22. Rex

  23. Goal and Purpose of a Pet Care Program • Goal: To provide patients with the assurance that you understand the role of their pet in contributing to their emotional and spiritual well being • Purpose: To recognize and actively support keeping patients and pets together during their time on hospice

  24. Active Support Services • Provide assistance with pet’s daily needs • Address pet’s obvious medical needs • Transportation to veterinarian or groomer • Provide placement after patient’s death • Helping with care cost (optional)

  25. The New Circle of Care

  26. Role of the Hospice Social worker provides a brief assessment to determine importance of pet in patient’s life Volunteers fill the service requests All Staff: • Ongoing evaluation of companion animal needs in the home with referrals to Pet Peace of Mind • Interaction and acknowledgment of pets in the home as part of patient/family support • Education about pet program to families and caregivers

  27. Tangible Benefits • Improves patient experience • Solves a current problem • Tool for volunteer recruiting • Fulfills Medicare requirement • Raises awareness of your hospice • Excellent marketing vehicle

  28. Intangible Benefits • Increases the quality of the relationships • Provides a way to assist • Has the potential to support the caregiver and family independent of the patient’s relationship with the pet • Can open new avenues in grief support • Promotes and educates the pet community about hospice

  29. The Start Up Process • Complete application and pay training fee • Receive copy of operations manual • Undergo two sessions of operations training • Undergo optional fundraising training • Complete brief operations plan

  30. Ongoing Support • Your support from Pet Peace of Mind’s national team continues after you launch your program. • Receive ongoing support, advice and coaching as long as you need it.

  31. Conclusion • Patient care is always the primary goal • Assisting with pet care increases quality of life for patients and families • By acknowledging the importance of patient’s relationships with their pets, you affirm and support them as individuals • Having a formal process takes the stress off your team

  32. Contact Info Christy Bork, Program Manager Pet Peace of Mind christybork@petpeaceofmind.org503.363.0499 www.petpeaceofmind.org

  33. Thanks for joining us!

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