The Oregon Caregiver FALL/WINTER 2022 www.ohca.com 14 SECTION Specific Medical Benefits of Therapy Animals By Nicolette Reilly, Oregon Health Care Association Many common, age-related life transitions, like moving out of homes, losing a spouse or loved one, restricted driving and other mobilities, or losing the independence that comes with activities of daily living, can cause residents residing in long term care communities to experience depression. In addition, residents may experience an additional decrease in the quality of life due to illness, stress, mental illnesses, and loneliness. More and more, commitments to further enhance residents’ social, behavioral, and emotional needs—especially in relational therapies, which are considered vital to the overall quality of life for seniors—are strengthening in long term care settings. One way to address these needs is animal therapy. Pet therapy has proven to decrease depression, encourage communication, increase social and cognitive stimulation, reduce boredom, and decrease cortical in the body, which results in lower anxiety and stress levels. With pet therapy, the reliance on medications can decrease, showing a resident’s health and wellbeing may be improved by contact with animals. Although dogs are the most common animal used in pet therapy, cats, birds, llamas, rabbits, goats, and other pets have shown to be just as effective. The pet therapy experience can be nostalgic for residents, reminding them of pets they’ve had in the past and the positive associations they may have had with those animals. Certified pet therapy dogs can respond to commands, such as “jump on” and “snuggle,” offering support and physical comfort to those in need. Therapy dogs are also trained to assist with ambulatory needs for high-energy residents who may need a walking companion. In addition to these effects, a study in Acta Biomed March 2017 shows that individuals with an elevated level of voluntary contact with pets can improve the quality of life for seniors experiencing loss and loneliness as well as physical ailments. This form of therapy has been known to decrease blood pressure, improve cardiovascular health, and The pet therapy experience can be nostalgic for residents, reminding them of pets they’ve had in the past and the positive associations they may have had with those animals. QUALITY
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTY1NDIzOQ==