Therapeutic effects of dog visits in nursing homes for the elderly.
BACKGROUND
Previous studies have suggested that visiting dogs can have positive effects on elderly people in nursing homes. We wanted to study the effects of biweekly dog visits on sleep patterns and the psychiatric well-being of elderly people.


METHODS
A total of 100 residents (median age: 85.5 years; [79; 90]) from four nursing homes were randomly assigned to receive biweekly visits for 6 weeks from a person accompanied by either a dog, a robot seal (PARO), or a soft toy cat. Sleep patterns were measured using actigraphy technology before, during (the third and sixth week), and after the series of visits. The participants were weighed and scored on the Geriatric Depression Scale, the Gottfries-Bråne-Steen Scale, and the Mini-Mental State Examination before and after the visit period.


RESULTS
We found that sleep duration (min) increased in the third week when visitors were accompanied by a dog rather than the robot seal or soft toy cat (dog: 610 ± 127 min; seal: 498 ± 146 min; cat: 540 ± 163 min; F2,37 = 4.99; P = 0.01). No effects were found in the sixth week or after the visit period had ended. We found that visit type had no effect on weight (F2,88 = 0.13; P > 0.05), body mass index (F2,86 = 0.33; P > 0.05), Geriatric Depression Scale (F2,82 = 0.85; P > 0.05), Gottfries-Bråne-Steen Scale (F2,90 = 0.41; P > 0.05), or Mini-Mental State Examination (F2,91 = 0.35; P > 0.05). Furthermore, we found a decrease in the Geriatric Depression Scale during the experimental period (S = -420; P < 0.05), whereas cognitive impairment worsened as shown by a decrease in Mini-Mental State Examination score (S = -483; P < 0.05) and an increase in the Gottfries-Bråne-Steen Scale (t = 2.06; P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Visit type did not affect the long-term mental state of the participants. The causal relationship between sleep duration and dog-accompanied visits remains to be explored.
Department of Animal Science, Aarhus University, Tjele, Denmark. karen.thodberg@anis.au.dk.
Karen
K
Thodberg
Department of Organic Psychiatric Disorders and Emergency Ward, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
Lisbeth Uhrskov
LU
Sørensen
Department of Animal Science, Aarhus University, Tjele, Denmark.
Janne Winther
JW
Christensen
Department of Animal Science, Aarhus University, Tjele, Denmark.
Pia Haun
PH
Poulsen
Department of Animal Science, Aarhus University, Tjele, Denmark.
Birthe
B
Houbak
Department of Organic Psychiatric Disorders and Emergency Ward, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
Vibeke
V
Damgaard
Department of Organic Psychiatric Disorders and Emergency Ward, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
Ingrid
I
Keseler
Department of Molecular Biology, Aarhus University, Tjele, Denmark.
David
D
Edwards
Psychiatric Centre Glostrup, Glostrup, Denmark.
Poul B
PB
Videbech
D056044:Actigraphy; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D003704:Dementia / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D003718:Denmark; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009735:Nursing Homes; D057805:Pets / Q000523:psychology*; D011595:Psychomotor Agitation / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D012371:Robotics; D016896:Treatment Outcome
animal-assisted activities; cognitive impairment; depression; nursing home; sleep; visiting dog