There is no denying the bonds between humans and some animals are special. While most families in the United States own a pet, integrating pets into medical care facilities for patient support and recovery has just recently emerged in recent years.
However, medical providers have observed the positive impact of therapy animals for some time. In the 19th century, famous nurse Florence Nightingale commented on the effects of therapy animals on the healing process. Likewise, psychological therapists in the early 20th century observed that sessions were more productive when pets were present. However, the study of animals in physical and mental health treatments did not formally begin until the 1960s.
Interest in pet therapy continues to expand as pets become integral parts of American families. Pet therapy, also known as animal-assisted therapy (AAT), is a form of therapy that can provide comfort and care to individuals in need. But when it comes to specialized care in skilled nursing facilities, how exactly can pet therapy help? Can it really improve a patient’s mental, physical, and emotional well-being? Are there lasting positive effects?
What Is Pet Therapy?
Pet therapy is a broad term usually described as the interaction between a person and a trained animal, specifically to assist in some type of recovery. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, pet therapy can be used in several different settings, as a group or individually. It can be as basic as introducing an animal into the treatment setting and allowing some time for the patients to interact with the animal. There is also a “goal-directed intervention” in which an animal that meets specific criteria is used as an integral part of the treatment process.
Therapy animals are different from emotional support animals and service animals. Therapy animals are highly trained to interact with various people to provide support, comfort, and affection. On the other hand, service animals are trained to perform certain functions, such as guiding someone through a crowd or identifying the first signs of a seizure. Emotional support animals are a constant presence that comforts and supports someone with mental or emotional health conditions, though they may be untrained.
Regardless of their classification, these animals do not directly treat any medical conditions but provide additional support within the current treatment plans. When used in conjunction with other medical treatments, such as psychotherapy or medication, animals can offer additional support and a sense of peace and well-being in patients with various medical conditions. The basis of pet therapy is the formation of the human-animal bond. This can present in many ways, but it is founded on the concept that humans enjoy interacting with friendly animals; these interactions and the resulting bonds create a calming effect.
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What Happens During a Pet Therapy Session?
The length and structure of animal-assisted therapy sessions varies depending on the setting, patients, and goals. For example, in a school, pets may provide comfort and a non-judgmental atmosphere for children struggling to read. The process will change in a skilled nursing facility (SNF) to accommodate the patient’s social, physical, and emotional needs. The handler should be an active participant in all sessions to ensure the safety of the patients and the therapy animal.
In general, pet therapy sessions will run as follows:
- Introduction. In a safe and peaceful setting, there will be an introduction between the animal and patient so they can get to know each other at their own pace.
- Care. If the relationship between the patient and therapy animal is amiable, they can care for the animal by taking it for a walk, feeding it, grooming it, or playing with it.
- Activities. The handler will suggest what the therapy animal prefers and suggest mutually enjoyable activities Knowing the benefits of pet therapy, other activities might be suggested, such as physical touch and miscellany social interactions.
- Goal setting. If the pet is part of a treatment plan, the patient will participate in prescribed activities with the animal present This could include short walks, speaking, participating in certain social activities, or using fine motor skills. Some animal therapy does not involve this step if the goal is to expose the patient to the animal’s calming effect. However, other patients may ride a horse to improve their balance or teach a dog a new trick to expand their cognitive abilities.
Who Benefits from Pet Therapy?
Pet therapy is a supplemental therapy for those with mental and physical health diagnoses. The emotional bond that develops between patient and animal is particularly helpful for those with anxiety, depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Pet therapy eases social interactions, making it a great option for patients with autism, dementia, grief, and Alzheimer’s.
In addition, interacting with animals has been shown to lower levels of perceived pain, so this can be a great alternative source of support for those who are recovering from surgery or going through something like cancer treatment. Gentle animal-assisted therapy can also support patients who have a loss of motor control due to stroke or seizures.
Some patients face certain risks associated with pet therapy. Providers should screen patients for pet allergies or fears that could impact their interactions with an animal and cause more distress than help.
What Pets Participate and How Are They Trained?
While the most common animal used in pet therapy is dogs, other options do exist. This is particularly helpful for patients who have allergies to animal dander. Each of the following types of animals can be trained to be great for pet therapy, though not all are suitable for performing pet therapy at SNFs:
- Dogs
- Horses
- Birds
- Cats
- Rabbits
- Guinea pigs
- Small reptiles
- Pigs
- Llamas
- Dolphins
- Fish
Any trainable animal with a pleasant temperament can make a great therapy animal. They should know basic commands and look forward to interacting with people. The American Kennel Club has a Canine Good Citizen program that includes ten basic skills that dogs should learn to be prepared to be therapy dogs. For use in therapy, an animal and their handler go through training together and work as a team. Both should be well-suited to their work and their target population.
A therapy animal should typically be accustomed to large groups of people, be bonded to the handler, and be motivated by rewards. Practice in social settings with various people, spaces, furniture, and distractions builds stronger skills as a therapy pet.
Pet Therapy at SNFs: A Closer Look
Skilled nursing facilities are known for providing care to the disabled, sick, and injured; studies now show that adding pet therapy to this line of care may improve the mental and physical health of the residents, particularly older individuals.
Potential Mental Health Benefits
It’s common for patients undergoing medical care in skilled nursing facilities to experience depression, anxiety, and feelings of loneliness due to their condition and separation from family and friends. Pet therapy can improve a patient’s mood, encourage social skills, and enhance the desire to participate in activities.Additionally, pet therapy may enable an individual to stay on the recovery course, as they find companionship and comfort in a trained animal that can also become an active part of their journey. Studies of pet therapy in SNFs showed an improvement in anxious responses, decreased agitation, lengthened conversations and engagement with treatment, and lessened feelings of social isolation.
Potential Physical Health Benefits
It’s widely understood and believed that stress can affect our physical health if we’re not careful. However, being in the presence of a pet can significantly reduce our stress levels and lower our blood sugar and blood pressure.But that’s not all. Since pets typically rely on us for exercise, care, and play, pet therapy promotes increased physical activity. It goes without saying that greater physical activity also improves mental clarity. In one study, patients with dementia who had access to a fish tank gained more weight (which is not the goal for all patients that may benefit from pet therapy, but is an important marker in dementia patients) than those in a control group.
Potential Social Benefits
Interacting with animals fosters better social interactions and a higher willingness for older adults to participate in social activities. Some had longer conversations after interacting with pets, and others exhibited more social behaviors such as smiling, participating in discussions, and making eye contact with speakers.
Even though skilled nursing facilities may be interested in these therapies while patients are in treatment, studies show that the benefits extend to those who welcome pets into their homes. For capable patients, pet ownership makes them more likely to take walks leading to a slower deterioration in the activities of daily living. Pet owners had better survival rates one year after a stay at a coronary care unit.
What’s Next for Pet Therapy at SNFs
As pet therapy becomes increasingly popular in various patient care settings, researchers will continue to explore the positive effects of this unique program. As we look towards the future, studies also examine how interaction with robot dogs can be just as effective for patients, particularly those with memory loss or dementia. These robots, which require no training or care, still offer comfort, a boost in social capital, and a decrease instress response.
We may still have a long way to go before we understand the full benefits of pet therapy at SNFs, but it may just be an important element not to be overlooked in a patient’s road to recovery. This can be especially important in patients who’ve had a strong bond with a pet in the past but can no longer care for the animal; bringing pet therapy into the medical treatment setting offers the comforts of home and a sense of well-being that is often missing in hospital-like settings.
