This study examined the effects of dog-assisted therapy (DAT) on social behaviors, emotional manifestations, and experience during the activity of 3 people with dementia residing in a specialized dementia unit. The study used an A-B-A-B withdrawal single-case experimental design with two 5-session phases, baseline and DAT, replicating the same activities in each phase. The sessions were recorded and 2 independent coders quantified the frequency of social behaviors along with an assessment of the emotional manifestations and experience during the activity. Comparing with baseline sessions, DAT sessions showed an increase in prosocial behaviors (leans, looks, and verbalizations) and a significant impact on emotional manifestations with heightened pleasure. Dog-assisted therapy sessions also led to a better experience, with higher participation, pleasure, and relationship with others, together with lower rejection and displeasure than in the baseline sessions. Dog-assisted therapy seems to be a nonpharmacological therapy with potential to improve quality of life of people with dementia through promoting social behaviors and positive emotional manifestations.
PrinceMWimoAGuerchetM, et al.World Alzheimer Report 2015. The Global Impact of Dementia. An Analysis of Prevalence, Incidence, Cost & Trends. London, UK: Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI); 2015.
2.
KuhnDOrtigaraAKasaykaRE. Dementia care mapping: an innovative tool to measure person-centered care. Alzheimers Care Today. 2000;1(3):7–15.
3.
NordgrenLEngströmG. Animal-assisted intervention in dementia: effects on quality of life. Clin Nurs Res. 2013;23(1):7–19. doi:10.1177/1054773813492546.
4.
Cohen-MansfieldJMarxMWernerP. Observational data on time use and behavior problems in the nursing home. J Appl Gerontol. 1992;11(1):111–121. doi:10.1177/073346489201100109.
5.
ChungJCC. Activity participation and well-being of people with dementia in long-term care settings. OTJR (Thorofare N J). 2004;24(1):22–31. doi:10.1177/153944920402400104.
6.
KolanowskiABuettnerLLitakerMYuF. Factors that relate to activity engagement in nursing home residents. Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen. 2006;21(1):15–22. doi:10.1177/153331750602100109.
7.
BuettnerLLFitzsimmonsS.Activity calendars for older adults with dementia: what you see is not what you get. Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen. 2003;18(4):215–226. doi:10.1177/153331750301800405.
8.
BernsteinPLFriedmannEMalaspinaA. Animal-assisted therapy enhances resident social interaction and initiation in long-term care facilities. Anthrozoos. 2000;13(4):213–224. doi:10.2752/089279300786999743.
9.
BuettnerLLFitzsimmonsSBarbaB.Animal-assisted therapy for clients with dementia: nurses’ role. J Gerontol Nurs. 2011;37(5):10–14. doi:10.3928/00989134-20110329-05.
10.
WilliamsEJenkinsR. Dog visitation therapy in dementia care: a literature review. Nurs Older People. 2008;20(8):31–35. doi:10.7748/nop2008.10.20.8.31.c6808.
FineAH. Handbook on Animal-Assisted Therapy: Theoretical Foundations and Guidelines for Practice. 2nd ed. New York, NY: Academic Press; 2000.
13.
PelusoSDe RosaADe LuciaN, et al.Animal-assisted therapy in elderly patients: evidence and controversies in dementia and psychiatric disorders and future perspectives in other neurological diseases. J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol. 2018;31(3):149–157. doi:10.1177/0891988718774634.
14.
TraversCPerkinsJRandJ, et al.An evaluation of dog-assisted therapy for residents of aged-care facilities with dementia. Anthrozoos. 2013;26(2):213–225. doi:10.2752/175303713x13636846944169.
15.
MarxMSCohen-MansfieldJRegierNG, et al.The impact of different dog-related stimuli on engagement of persons with dementia. Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen. 2010;25(1):37–45. doi:10.1177/1533317508326976.
16.
WalshPGMertinPGVerlanderDFPollardCF. The effects of a ‘pets as therapy’ dog on persons with dementia in a psychiatric ward. Aust Occup Ther J. 1995;42(4):161–166. doi:10.1111/j.1440-1630.1995.tb01331.x.
17.
KongableLGBuckwalterKCStolleyJM. The effects of pet therapy on the social behavior of institutionalized Alzheimer’s clients. Arch Psychiatr Nurs. 1989;3(4):191–198.
18.
BatsonKMcCabeBWBaunMMWilsonCM. The effect of a therapy dog on socialization and physiological indicators of stress in persons diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. In: WilsonCCTurnerDC, eds. Companion Animals in Human Health. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage; 1998:203–215.
19.
ChurchillMSafaouiJMcCabeBWBaunMM. Using a therapy dog to alleviate the agitation and desocialization of people with Alzheimer’s disease. J Psychosoc Nurs Ment Health Serv. 1999;37(4):16–22. doi:10.3928/0279-3695-19990401-12.
20.
SellersDM. The evaluation of an animal assisted therapy intervention for elders with dementia in long-term care. Act Adapt Aging. 2006;30(1):61–77. doi:10.1300/j016v30n01_04.
21.
RichesonNE. Effects of animal-assisted therapy on agitated behaviors and social interactions of older adults with dementia. Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen. 2003;18(6):353–358. doi:10.1177/153331750301800610.
22.
CurtrightATurnerGS. The influence of a stuffed and live animal on communication in a female with Alzheimer’s dementia. J Med Speech Lang Pathol. 2002;10(1):61–71.
23.
GreerKLPustayKAZaunTCCoppensP. A comparison of the effects of toys versus live animals on the communication of patients with dementia of the Alzheimer’s type. Clin Gerontol. 2002;24(3-4):157–182. doi:10.1300/j018v24n03_13.
24.
FickKM. The influence of an animal on social interactions of nursing home residents in a group setting. Am J Occup Ther. 1993;47(6):529–534. doi:10.5014/ajot.47.6.529.
25.
HartLA. Psychological benefits of animal companionship. In: FineAH, ed. Handbook on Animal Assisted Therapy: Theoretical Foundations and Guidelines for Practice. New York, NY: Academic Press; 2000:59–78.
26.
HuntSJHartLAGomulkiewiczR. Role of small animals in social interactions between strangers. J Soc Psychol. 1992;132(2):245–256. doi:10.1080/00224545.1992.9922976.
27.
MosselloERidolfiAMelloAM, et al.Animal-assisted activity and emotional status of patients with Alzheimer’s disease in day care. Int Psychogeriatr. 2011;23(6):899–905. doi:10.1017/s1041610211000226.
28.
KawamuraNNiiyamaMNiiyamaH. Long term evaluation of animal-assisted therapy for institutionalized elderly people: a preliminary result. Psychogeriatrics. 2007;7(1):8–13. doi:10.1111/j.1479-8301.2006.00156.x.
29.
MajićTGutzmannHHeinzA, et al.Animal-assisted therapy and agitation and depression in nursing home residents with dementia: a matched case–control trial. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2013;21(11):1052–1059. doi:10.1016/j.jagp.2013.03.004.
30.
MorettiFDe RonchiDBernabeiV, et al.Pet therapy in elderly patients with mental illness. Psychogeriatrics. 2010;11(2):125–129. doi:10.1111/j.1479-8301.2010.00329.x.
31.
MotomuraNYagiTOhyamaH. Animal assisted therapy for people with dementia. Psychogeriatrics. 2004;4(2):40–42. doi:10.1111/j.1479-8301.2004.00062.x.
32.
BanksMBBanksWA. The effects of animal-assisted therapy on loneliness in an elderly population in long-term facilities. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2002;57(7):M428–M432. doi:10.1093/gerona/57.7.m428.
33.
Cohen-MansfieldJParpura-GillAGolanderH. Salience of self-identity roles in persons with dementia: differences in perceptions among elderly persons, family members and caregivers. Soc Sci Med. 2006;62(3):745–757. doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2005.06.031.
34.
FolsteinMFFolsteinSEMcHughPR. “Mini-Mental State”: a practical method for grading the cognitive state of patients for the clinician. J Psychiatr Res. 1975;12(3):189–198. doi:10.1016/0022-3956(75)90026-6.
HendyHM. Effects of pet and/or people visits on nursing home residents. Int J Aging Hum Dev. 1987;25(4):279–291. doi:10.2190/d3dd-vb2n-uqj8-8agn.
37.
LawtonMPVan HaitsmaKKlapperJA. Observed affect in nursing home residents with Alzheimer’s disease. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 1996;51(1):P3–P14.
MuñizROlazaránJPovedaS, et al.NPT-ES: a measure of the experience of people with dementia during non-pharmacological interventions. Nonpharmacol Ther Dement. 2011;1(3):241–251.
40.
LaFranceCGarciaLJLabrecheJ. The effect of a therapy dog on the communication skills of an adult with aphasia. J Commun Disord. 2007;40(3):215–224. doi:10.1016/j.jcomdis.2006.06.010.
41.
NordgrenLEngströmG. Effects of dog-assisted intervention on behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia. Nurs Older People. 2014;26(3):31–38. doi:10.7748/nop2014.03.26.3.31.e517.
42.
BeetzAUvnäs-MobergKJuliusHKotrschalK. Psychosocial and psychophysiological effects of human–animal interactions: the possible role of oxytocin. Front Psychol. 2012;3:234. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2012.00234.
43.
PerkinsJBartlettHTraversCRandJ. Dog-assisted therapy for older people with dementia: a review. Australas J Ageing. 2008;27(4):177–182. doi:10.1111/j.1741-6612.2008.00317.x.
44.
KitwoodT. Dementia Reconsidered: The Person Comes First. Buckingham, UK: Open University Press; 1997.
45.
KramerSCFriedmannEBernsteinPL. Comparison of the effect of human interaction animal-assisted therapy, and AIBO-assisted therapy on long-term care residents with dementia. Anthrozoos. 2009;22(1):43–57. doi:10.2752/175303708x390464.
Supplementary Material
Please find the following supplemental material available below.
For Open Access articles published under a Creative Commons License, all supplemental material carries the same license as the article it is associated with.
For non-Open Access articles published, all supplemental material carries a non-exclusive license, and permission requests for re-use of supplemental material or any part of supplemental material shall be sent directly to the copyright owner as specified in the copyright notice associated with the article.
