Pets and the Ageing 19 Nov 2013 · Pets motivate and encourage the elderly in particular to stay healthy and active, exercise, be mobile and leave the house. Pets are great stress

19/11/13

1

CAULFIELD SOUTH VETERINARY CLINIC   Caring for pets and their owners for over 35

years   Dedicated facilities and caring staff   Full range of services, including 24 hour

emergency service

19/11/2013 Pets and the aging 1

CONTACT US   Address: 463 Hawthorn Road Caulfield South

Victoria 3162   Phone: 03 9528 2525   After hours: 03 9528 4755   Website: www.thecaringclinic.com.au   Email: [email protected]   Find us on facebook! “Caulfield south veterinary clinic”


Dr Onn Ben-David OAM •  Registered Veterinary Practitioner •  Principle and founder of Caulfield South

Veterinary Clinic •  Animal Welfare Advocate •  Fellow of the Australian Veterinary Association •  RSPCA Victoria Director 1979 to 2012 •  RSPCA Vice President 1980 to 2008 •  Veterinary Advisor CSTDA 2012 onward


Pets & The Elderly Caulfield Shulle 19/11/2013

Presentation Topics   1. Pet ownership statistics & benefits   2. The human - animal bond & the elderly   3. Pets in aged care facilities   4. Pets for people with disability   5. Basic pet care   6. Delivery of pet assisted programs.


Pet Populations 2013 www//petsinaustralia.com.au

  More then 25 million pets   63% of homes have at least one pet (5 out of 7.3mil homes)   One of the highest in the world   Dogs 4.2mil (19 for 100), 32%   Cat 3.3mil (15 for 100), 29%   Fish10.7 mil Birds 4.8 mil   Other pockets pests 2.2mil (Rabbit, Guinea Pigs, etc.)


Benefits of Pet Ownership

  The ownership and contact with pets help us live longer happier and more active lives.

  Pets offer companionship, affection and a reason to keep active.

  Ownership of a pet at any stage of our lives is very rewarding and beneficial to the entire family.

  The effects on the aging and elderly are particularly profound.


19/11/13

2

Pet Owners Health Facts

  Visit the doctor less   Have less of a need for medication   Lower cholesterol   Lower blood pressure   Deal better with stress   Quicker recovery from illness and surgery   Less likely to feel lonely.

www.stratacommunity.org.au/strata-living/benefits-pet-ownership


The Human-Animal Bond and the Elderly

  Help decreases a feeling of loneliness & isolation and gives the person a feeling of being needed.

  Pets motivate and encourage the elderly in particular to stay healthy and active, exercise, be mobile and leave the house.

  Pets are great stress relievers, they assists in decreasing blood pressure and lower cholesterol, thus help reduce the need of medications.


Human- Animal Bond cont.

  Having a dependant pet at home means owners tend to want to recover quicker from illness and surgery.

  Having a pet helps improve reminiscence & communication.   Deal better with stress & less likely

to feel or be lonely. 19/11/2013 Pets and the aging 9

Diversity of Pet Animals   Dogs – Keeps owner active with walking and

activities. Unconditional love and affection.   Cats – Calming, lap warmer, quiet affection   Birds – easy to care for, minimal grooming, social

creatures, attractive to look at, inexpensive to feed, minimal space, not considered “pets” at rentals.

  Fish – extremely relaxing to watch, easy to care for, inexpensive to keep, minimal space.

  Rabbits & Guinea pigs – easy to care for, can be trained.


Dogs – keep owner active with walking and activities. Unconditional love and affection.


Cats – calming, lap warmer, quiet affection


19/11/13

3

Birds – easy to care for, minimal grooming, social creatures, inexpensive to feed, minimal space, attractive to look at, not considered “pets” at rentals.


Rabbits & Guinea pigs – easy to care for, can be trained trained


GUINEA PIGS


Fish – extremely relaxing to watch, easy to care for, inexpensive to keep, minimal space


Pets In Aged Care Facilities

There are several ways we can utilize pets in aged care homes,   “Visiting pets” mainly dog   “Live in” with owners   “Live in” the facility   Combinations options All require a similar health and welfare consideration to the pet.


Pets in Aged Care Facilities   Elderly pet owners who must enter aged

care facilities often report feelings of loss when they have to leave their pets behind.

  Pets provide valuable interventions helping to permanently improve the atmosphere of facility and nursing homes

  Pet therapy has been proven to provide many of the benefits of pet ownership

:


19/11/13

4

The Benefits www.deltasociety.com.au/

  Mental stimulation. Improve interaction entertainment and enjoyment.   Shifting of focus. Often residents (esp. long

term) concentrate too much on themselves. Animals provide a new focus of conversation

  Acceptance. Animals accept people unconditionally which is heart-warming and soothing for residents.

  Increased self esteem. and alertness through a sense of responsibility.


The Benefit Cont.   Perceived loss of freedom & responsibility;

animals can add purpose and inspiration to the life of the residence

  Entertainment. Pets inspire humour, good times and laughs.

  Rapport. Pets are emotionally safe and non-threatening. They don’t discriminate or impose demands. Pets live for the moment, interacting with them often helps residents concentrate on the present and stop dwelling on the past

or worrying about the future. 19/11/2013 Pets and the aging 20

The Benefit cont.   Development of empathy. Animal’s are

easier to ‘read’ than humans and interaction with pets can help develop an individual’s sense of empathy as they reason

to the animals needs.

  Reminiscing. Caring for pets encourages adherence to a daily schedule and will often evoke wonderful memories of the past 19/11/2013 Pets and the aging 21

The Benefit cont. www.goldencares.com

  Improvement in physical activity. Caring for a pet dog may encourage physical activity: playing with a ball and going for a walk.

  Socialization. Most people love animals and will enjoy sharing time together in the company of animals, talking and laughing together.

  Physiological benefits. Having a pet may enhance the immunity system as well as give spiritual fulfilment. An animal’s love is unconditional.


AWLA Survey 2013 Pets In Aged Care Facilities

  Current survey was so far taken up by a very small group

  Majority of responded rating their facilities as highly pet friendly.   Not a representative sample, see next slide   Online survey /address


AWLA 2013 Interim Results Pets in aged care facility

  Around 65% have on-site shared pets   Most popular on-site pets are birds, followed by

cats, then dogs   Around 68% have a visiting pets program   98% allow family and friends to bring pets when

they visit residents   88% rate access to pets in aged care facilities as

either very important or vitally important   82% are happy to share info with other facilities

(policies & working models) 19/11/2013 Pets and the aging 24

19/11/13

5

Dogs for People with Disability

  The use of animals as treatment for people with disability is becoming more recognised & more widely practiced.

  The aim is to improve the persons emotional, social

cognitive and functional wellbeing   Improve quality of life and enhance independence and social inclusion. 19/11/2013 Pets and the aging 25

SERVICE / THERAPY DOG   Studies show that even a short visit by a

therapy dog to a nursing home can help ease agitation in people with Alzheimer’s   The calming nature and affection of the pet & the relaxing benefit of stroking & petting helps slow the heart and lower blood pressure


Dog Care Basic Principles

  Housing   Nutritional care   Health & wellbeing   Grooming & coat care   Exercise & socialisation   Environmental stimulation and enrichments   Training


DOG CARE - DELIVERY   Essential to follow an effective protocol /program

based on the individual situation of the dog the person and the home/ family involved

  Comply with Local legislations, POCTAA & the Domestic Animal Act, Aged care

facility policy and protocol   Policy’s & Protocols – should be individualized & formalized with clear line of responsibilities and accountability   The welfare of the dog must not be

compromised 19/11/2013 Pets and the aging 28

CAULFIELD SOUTH VETERINARY CLINIC THANK YOU!!!!


Documents

Pets and the Ageing 19 Nov 2013 · Pets motivate and encourage the elderly in particular to stay healthy and active, exercise, be mobile and leave the house. Pets are great stress