title: Animal-assisted therapy for clients with dementia.
abstract: The purpose of this article is to increase nurses' awareness of animal-assisted therapy as a treatment option for older adults with dementia. We describe the differences between animal visitation programs and goal-directed therapy. We also address credentials of human-animal teams and provide an overview of possible therapeutic outcomes for older adults with dementia. Step-by-step methods are outlined for nurses to advocate for clients with dementia to receive these services.
authors.affiliation: Therapeutic recreation and Gerontology, School of Health and Human Preformance, University of North Carolina at Queensboro, Greensboro, NC 27402, USA. llbuettn@uncg.edu
authors.forename: Linda L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Buettner
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fitzsimmons
authors.forename: Beth
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Barba
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D056447:Animal Assisted Therapy; D000818:Animals; D001364:Awareness; D003704:Dementia / Q000451:nursing / Q000628:therapy*; D055318:Evidence-Based Nursing; D006801:Humans; D015047:Zoonoses