Goals of Pet Therapy

Gives moderate

willingness to exercise

Improve fine motor skills

Increase self-esteem

Improve assisted or

independent movement

Increase verbal

communication

Decrease anxiety or

loneliness

Karyssaann Costagliola

March 5, 2015

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Reduces pain, anxiety, depression, and fatigue

Improves physiological state, decreases heart

rate and blood pressure

Increases physical contact opportunities

Increases mental stimulation

Increase relationship between patient and health

care workers

Improves outward focus

Acquires empathetic and nurturing skills

The elderly are known to become lonely,

depressed, have lack of energy and lack of

socializing

Benefits of Pet Therapy Pet Therapy & the

Elderly Population

A study done at University of

Missouri-Columbia showed that after a

few minutes of petting a dog it released

“feel good” hormones like serotonin,

prolactin, and oxytocin and lowers the

stress hormone cortisol

Fish tanks were also used with patients

with Alzheimer's to help stimulate the

mind of the patient and bring patients

to the present

Canaries were also used in the elderly

population of Italy with showed an

increase quality of life