Resident Dog in the Alzheimer’s Special Care Unit

Abstract

Behavioral disturbances are a commonfeature of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Prior studies have demonstrated a significant reduction in agitation behaviors during short-term exposure to a dog on an Alzheimer's special care unit (SCU)for persons with AD. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect over time of a resident dog on problem behaviors of persons with AD in an SCU. A within-participants repeated-measures design was used for this study. The Nursing Home Behavior Problem Scale was used to document behaviors (on days and evenings) I week before and 4 weeks after placement of the dog. Participants on the day shift exhibited significantly fewer problem behaviors across the 4 weeks of the study (F[1, 80] = 7.69, p < .05). No significant change in behaviors occurred on the evening shift. Thefindings support the long-term therapeutic effects of dogs for persons residing in Alheimer's SCUs.

Animal-Assisted Therapy and Agitation and Depression in Nursing Home Residents with Dementia: A Matched Case–Control Trial

“…In the resident dog study, effects remained stable for a mid-term period of a few days after discontinuation of AAT. 32 In another study, the calming effects of a visiting dog did not persist after the therapy dog was removed, suggesting a lack of long-term effects. 38 Mid-and long-term effects were not investigated, 25,32 nor were symptoms found to increase, after discontinuation of AAT.…”

“…32 In another study, the calming effects of a visiting dog did not persist after the therapy dog was removed, suggesting a lack of long-term effects. 38 Mid-and long-term effects were not investigated, 25,32 nor were symptoms found to increase, after discontinuation of AAT. 28 Hence, the efficacy of dog-assisted interventions might be limited to short-term effects connected to the therapy dog's continuous presence.…”

Animal-assisted therapy for dementia: a review of the literature

“…The impact of introducing a resident dog into an SCU was documented by McCabe et al (2002). Data were collected 1 week before and for the first 4 weeks after placement of the dog.…”

Effect of animal-assisted activity on balance and quality of life in home-dwelling persons with dementia

“…Animalassisted activities (AAAs) are one type of AAI and include, for example, dogs and their handlers who visit for 'meet-and-greet' activities (11). Most studies of AAIs have focused on the interventions' impacts on social outcomes (12)(13)(14)(15), behavioural and psychological outcomes (16)(17)(18)(19)(20), and physiological outcomes (21-23), many of which are regarded as risk factors associated with falls. However, there are fewer studies of the effect of AAIs on performance-based physical outcomes and the results from these studies are inconsistent (19,24).…”