INSTITUTIONALIZED ELDERLY AND ANIMAL ASSISTED ACTIVITIES (AAA)

Abstract

Animal assisted activity (AAA) is useful for socializing people, in psychotherapy, for treating elderly, patients with special needs and for reducing anxiety of many causes. The relationship with animals allows a better life quality by having affective and emotional contact. It helps self-esteem, good mood and relationships as well as it stimulates exercise by instigating mobility and the use of arms, hands and legs. This activity also provides relaxation and reduction of apathy, aggression and blood pressure as well as momentary pain and depression. The aim of the study was to observe and identify physical, emotional, social and behavioral changes generated by the installation of AAA in a care health institution for the elderly. Thirty-six elderly of both sexes and aged between 58 and 101 were observed in an elderly assistance institution. The visits were performed by previously trained dogs, most of Labrador Retriever and Poodle breeds, accompanied by Veterinary, Geriatrics and under graduate Veterinary Medicine students. The elderly were encouraged to caress, comb and brush the teeth and walk with the animals. During the visits the team made a questionnaire with 16 institution employees to evaluate the AAA results on the patients. Some difficulties in interpersonal relationship were minimized and the aggressiveness and irritability decreased. Besides, most of the elderly in the presence of dogs felt more motived to practice physiotherapy and physical exercise outdoors. According to responses from the questionnaire submitted to the employees, the visits of AAA has a good influence on the patients, there was improvement of health, social acquaintance, emotional aspects of elderly, the inmates started to be happier and weekly visits were very important. The observed results demonstrate the possibility of increasing physical and emotional life quality of institutionalized elderly by practicing AAA often and systematically, proving the dog’s role as motivational objects and catalysts of human emotions, reflecting the obvious physical and mental health.