www.ohca.com FALL/WINTER 2022 The Oregon Caregiver 19 DATA & RESEARCH from Hoang et al. that includes loneliness among long term care residents. Other studies have also pointed to improved measures of physical health for older adults including reductions in blood pressure among nursing facility residents who interact with therapy dogs (for instance, Handlin et al., 2018). One should take caution in interpreting the findings of these various studies and their effects on AAI participants; further research is needed to better understand these findings.2 The potential benefits of AAIs have also been specifically studied for people living with dementia. Studies appear to show that AAIs may decrease the neuropsychiatric symptoms in dementia or the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD)3 such as agitation, depression, apathy, hallucinations, or wandering. A 2018 meta-analysis of AAIs and impacts on dementia by Hu et al. found substantial decreases in depression and agitation. Whether or not AAIs may help mitigate all types of BPSD, which more than 97 percent of all people living with dementia experience at some point during the disease, is less clear.4 Once again, the use of non-pharmacological approaches to support people living with dementia is highly important. Something like AAIs that are both fun and relatively low risk, which can also potentially decrease depression and agitation, would be a wonderful addition to the supportive activities and therapies offered in care communities. While the risks of possible side effects may be low as are the costs of AAIs when compared to more conventional therapies, careful considerations are still needed, and other potential risks mitigated. For instance, a fear of certain animals by a resident or allergies may mean other approaches than an AAI should be explored in those situations. There is also a need to ensure both the animal and their human professional are properly trained to work with older adults in long term care settings. These types of considerations, while essential, should not prevent the use of AAIs and AATs when appropriate. Animal assisted interventions may be a fun, cost effective way to better support residents of long term care communities. This appears to be the case for residents living with dementia as well as others who may be experiencing other challenges and conditions such as PTSD. While further research is needed to understand the full range of potential benefits (as well as the limitations) of animal assisted interventions for older adults, there is some evidence to suggest that AAIs may reduce neuropsychiatric symptoms (or BPSD) among people living with dementia. This is good news and something that should be explored further as we continue to work to improve the overall wellbeing of residents and staff in Oregon’s long term care communities. Walt Dawson is an assistant professor at Oregon Health & Science University and a senior Atlantic fellow with the Global Brain Health Institute. References 1. Hoang P, King JA, Moore S, Moore K, Reich K, Sidhu H, Tan CV, Whaley C, & McMillan J. (2022). Interventions Associated With Reduced Loneliness and Social Isolation in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA Network Open, 5(10):e2236676. doi:10.1001/ jamanetworkopen.2022.36676. 2. Handlin L, Nilsson A, Lidfors L, Petersson M, & UvnäsMoberg K. (2018). The Effects of a Therapy Dog on the Blood Pressure and Heart Rate of Older Residents in a Nursing Home, Anthrozoös, 31:5, 567-576. doi:10.1080/089 27936.2018.1505268. 3. Hu M, Zhang P, Leng M, Li C, & Chen L. (2018). Animalassisted intervention for individuals with cognitive impairment: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials and quasi-randomized controlled trials. Psychiatry Research, 260, 418–427. https://doi.org/10.1016/ j.psychres.2017.12.016. 4. Steinberg M, Shao H, Zandi P, Lyketsos CG, Welsh-Bohmer KA, Norton MC, Breitner JC, Steffens DC, Tschanz JT, and Cache County Investigators. (2008). Point and 5-year period prevalence of neuropsychiatric symptoms in dementia: the Cache County Study. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 23(2): 170–177. https:// doi.org/10.1002/gps.1858.
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