Animal-assisted therapy for the homebound elderly

Feasibility of Home-Use Animal-Assisted Activities in Patients With Implanted Cardiac Electronic Devices

“…The results of our pilot study suggest a low rate of acceptance due to various reasons, mainly because the patients consider themselves as too busy or healthy, or are not interested in AAA. As home settings differ from institutions in patients' degree of control, privacy, and how time is spent, patients' estimation of AAA might differ between these settings (Harris et al, 1993). Patients may prefer not to have "guest pets" in their homes.…”

“…Home visits for AAA are unusual in Europe; however, they are an offered service in the United States for homebound patients and are appreciated by patients who are too sick to leave their homes by themselves (Harris et al, 1993). It is unknown if ambulatory outpatients with cardiovascular disorders would be interested to be visited by AAA-teams in their homes.…”

Occupational therapists' interests and attitudes toward animal assisted therapy as a treatment modality

“…It was found that there was an immediate positive change in patients' behaviors, and this change was maintained for at least one month after the termination of the study. Harris et al (1993) investigated the effects of a pet visitation program on the homebound elderly. The sample consisted of 16 homebound patients who were between the ages of 65 to 91 years.…”

“…Half of the subjects completed a General Well-Being Scale and they found no differences between the experimental and control groups for this factor. With regard to this finding, the researchers stated that the tool they used might not have been sensitive enough to measure any differences (Harris et al, 1993). Robb et al (1980) conducted a study to determine how effective certain objects were as catalysts for social behavior.…”

Pet facilitated therapy and the therapeutic relationship: participant perspectives

“…Blood pressure readings, heart rate, and respiration rates were also monitored in a study of pet facilitated therapy with the homebound elderly (Harris, Rinehart, & Gerstman, 1993). Readings were recorded weekly for sixteen participants during a four week control period, and again during the four week test period, during which a dog and volunteer handler also visited the participants.…”