Pet Therapy

[panda_181]

Hello all!

I am in my last year of nursing (yay!) and for a part of the course I'm taking now, I have to write a proposal paper on a topic of my choice. I have chosen Pet Therapy in Continuing Care. I was wondering if anyone had journal articles dicussing the benefits of Pet Therapy on Geriatrics in Long Term Care Facilities? Any help you could give me would be great...thanks!

Amanda :)

[ComicRN]

Amanda - I don't know of any articles on Pet Therapy, but you might try to find them through some sort of Theraeutic Recreation source. In our facility, it is the Rec Therapy department who takes care of our pet visits. Or, maybe even the local humane society.

Good luck.

[peter73]

Amanda,

You can also look at the Eden Alternative. Pets are a large part of this and the web sites and brochures give alot of info on the benefits of animal interaction on the psychological and physical health of residents in the long term care setting.

Peter

[AGI]

Amanda, Peter is right.......The Eden Alternative will give you a tremendous amount of information. Our facility began about 3 years ago working toward the concept that LTC facilities need to make "life worth living" to our elders. The road was tough, but the benefits of having pets and children in our LTC facility have certainly outweighed the work.