The effects of a therapeutic recreation intervention using animal-assisted therapy (AAT) on the agitated behaviors and social interactions of older adults with dementia were examined using the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory and the Animal-Assisted Therapy Flow Sheet. In a pilot study, 15 nursing home residents with dementia participated in a daily AAT intervention for three weeks. Results showed statistically significant decreases in agitated behaviors and a statistically significant increase in social interaction pretest to post-test.
Buettner L, Fitzsimmons S: Dementia Practice Guidelines for Treating Disturbing Behaviors. Alexandria, VA: American Therapeutic Recreation Association, 2003.
2.
Conn VS, Burks K, Rantz M, et al.: Evidence-based practice for gerontological nursing. J Gerontol Nurs. 2002; 28(2): 45-52.
3.
Lee Y, Yang H: A review of therapeutic recreation outcomes in physical medicine and rehabilitation between 1991-2000. Annu Ther Rec.2000; 9: 21-33.
4.
Buettner L: Gerontological recreation therapy: Examining the trends and making a forecast. Annu Ther Rec.2000; 9: 35-46.
5.
DeYoung S, Just G, Harrison R: Decreasing aggressive, agitated, or disruptive behavior: Participation in a behavior management unit. J Gerontol Nurs. 2002; 28(6): 22-31.
6.
Cohen-Mansfield J: Agitated behaviors in the elderly: II. Preliminary results in the cognitively deteriorated. J Am Geriatr Soc.1986; 34(10): 722-727.
7.
Cohen-Mansfield J, Marx MS, Rosenthal AS. A description of agitation in a nursing home. J Gerontol. 1989; 44(3): M77-M84.
8.
Cohen-Mansfield J, Billig N: Agitated behaviors in the elderly: I. A conceptual review. J Am Geriatr Soc.1986; 34(10): 711-721.
9.
McCormack BP, Funderburk J: Therapeutic recreation outcomes in mental health practice. Annu Ther Rec.2000; 9: 9-19.
10.
Stumbo NJ: Outcome measurement in health care: Implications for therapeutic recreation. Annu Ther Rec.2000; 9: 1-8.
11.
Richeson NE, McCullough WT: An evidence-based animalassisted therapy protocol and flow sheet for the geriatric recreational therapy practice. Am J Rec Ther. 2002; 1(1): 25-31.
12.
McCabe BW, Baun MM, Speich D, et al.: Resident dogs in the Alzheimer's special care unit. West J Nurs Res.2002; 24(6): 684-696.
13.
Algase D, Beck C, Kolanowski A, et al.: Need-driven dementiacompromised behavior: An alternative view of disruptive behavior. Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Dement. 1996; 11(6): 10-10, 12-19.
14.
Thorson JA: Aging in a changing society (2nd ed). Ann Arbor, MI: Taylor & Francis, 2000.
15.
Cohen-Mansfield J, Marx M, Werner P, et al.: Temporal patterns of agitated nursing home residents. Int Psychogeriatr. 1992; 4(2): 197-206.
16.
Vitiello M, Bilwise D, Prinz P: Sleep in Alzheimer's disease and the sundown syndrome. Neurology. 1992; 42(7, suppl 6): 83-94.
17.
Bilwise D: Sleep disturbances. In Reichman W, Katz PR (eds.): Psychiatric Care in the Nursing Home. New York: Oxford University Press, 1996; 118-132.
18.
Alzheimer's Association: Sundowning. Retrieved August 13, 2003, from http://www.alz.org/grtrcinc/hwGCChaSundowning.htm.
19.
Folstein MF, Folstein SE, McHugh PR: Mini-Mental State: A practical method for grading the cognitive state of patients for the clinician. J Psychiatr Res.1975; 12(3): 189-198.
20.
Farber R, Schmitt D, Logue P: Predicting intellectual level from the Mini-Mental State Examination. J Am Geriatr Soc.1988; 36(6): 509-510.
21.
Buettner L, Lundegren H, Lago D, et al.: Therapeutic recreation as an intervention for persons with dementia and agitation: An efficacy study. Am J Alzheimers Dis.1996; 11(5): 4-12.
22.
Richeson NE, McCullough WT: A therapeutic recreation intervention using animal-assisted therapy: Effects on the subjective wellbeing of older adults. Alexandria, VA: American Therapeutic Recreation Association (in press).
23.
Kolanoswki AM, Buettner L, Costa PT, et al.: Capturing interests: Therapeutic recreation activities for persons with dementia. Ther Rec J. 2001; 35(3): 220-235.
24.
Banks R, Banks WA: The effects of animal-assisted therapy on loneliness in an elderly population in long-term care facilities. J Gerontol Med Sci.2002; 57(7): M428-M432.
