Pet Therapy Part VI: Examples
The literature is replete with anecdotal examples of the effectiveness of pet therapy. I selected several that are particularly relevant to long term care and I recount them here:
One example is of an elderly resident in a long term care facility who was not talking and who would lie in bed for hours, refusing to come out of her room. She was invited to all the therapy groups and activities throughout the day, but did not want to participate. Her psychiatrist recommended that the occupational therapist try her therapy dog. On the first visit, the woman sat down with the dog and began petting her. Within days of spending time with the dog, she was actively engaged in conversation with staff and other residents. She began talking about her past and things that were happening to her.
The next day, the goal was to help the patient become more active by going for a walk. After she spent some time with the dog, she was asked if she would like to take her for a walk. She replied she'd like that very much and they went for a leisurely walk. From that day forward, that patient participated in all the groups and became far more involved in the milieu.
Another example is that of a pregnant woman who was badly injured in a motor-vehicle accident and unresponsive. When a volunteer brought a dog into her room, the patient was asked to scratch the dog. Even though she had not responded to anything else anyone said or did, she scratched the dog-and soon, she was stroking its fur. Though it may not have been related to the dog, the next morning, she woke up and was able to talk to her family.
Animals can inspire patients who otherwise refuse to participate in their own treatment. In another example, a young man who had Down syndrome had broken his neck in a car accident. The man had no interest in physical therapy-until a dog was brought in. He started by throwing a ball for the dog, and eventually, he would participate in any physical therapy that directly involved the animal.
Finally, Ronnie was an African-American male, 50 years old, in a long term care facility with a history of nonischemic cardiomyopathy, diabetes mellitus type II, and chronic renal failure. He was withdrawn, depressed, and dependent on mechanical ventilation, and had acquired a sternal wound infection. He continued to require intensive care for continuous renal replacement therapy, as a result of an inactive, newly transplanted kidney. Ronnie was initially referred for AAT boost his morale and cope with his depression. Two or three times a week Ronnie was visited by four different dogs. Ronnie became physically and mentally stronger at an accelerating pace and was able to engage in self-car. He smiled, was oriented to person, place, and time and said the animal visitation gave Ronnie something to look forward to, which had a positive impact on his physical and mental health.