Original scientific paper
Animal Assisted Therapy and Perception of Loneliness in Geriatric Nursing Home Residents
Zoran Vrbanac
; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Radiology, Ultrasound Diagnostics and Physical Therapy, Zagreb, Croatia
Iva Zečević
; Psychiatric Hospital for Children and Youth, Zagreb, Croatia
Marijana Ljubić
; University of Applied Health Studies, Zagreb, Croatia
Maja Belić
; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pathophysiology, Zagreb, Croatia
Damir Stanin
; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Radiology, Ultrasound Diagnostics and Physical Therapy, Zagreb, Croatia
Nika Brkljača Bottegaro
; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Clinic for Surgery, Orthopedics and Ophtalmology, Zagreb, Croatia
Gabrijela Jurkić
; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Clinic for Internal Diseases, Zagreb, Croatia
Branimir Škrlin
; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Radiology, Ultrasound Diagnostics and Physical Therapy, Zagreb, Croatia
Ljiljana Bedrica
; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Clinic for Internal Diseases, Zagreb, Croatia
Damir Žubčić
; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Clinic for Internal Diseases, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
Use of animals for therapeutic purposes, animal assisted therapy or AAT is a method for improving quality of life for long-term inpatients. The object of this paper was to evaluate dog companionship as a form of AAT and its effects on per- ception of loneliness in geriatric nursing home residents. The participants were involved in a six-month program of dog companionship three times weekly for 90 minutes. There were 21 residents included in the program, with a mean age of 80 years. Loneliness was measured by the short version of the UCLA Scale of loneliness. Comparison of test results before and after participation in the program showed that dog companionship reduces the perception of loneliness.
Keywords
dog; animal assisted therapy; geriatric nursing; loneliness
Hrčak ID:
118306
URI
Publication date:
30.9.2013.
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