Felinotherapy in NURSING homes

Lenka Motlová
University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Institute of Social and Special-paedagogical Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic

Korespondenční autor: Lenka Motlová (motlova@zsf.jcu.cz)

ISSN 1804-7181 (On-line)

Full verze:

Submitted:29. 5. 2017
Accepted: 25. 6. 2018
Published online: 31. 12. 2018

Summary

Felinotherapy, which is the positive and therapeutic effect of cats on human health, is an important part of the complex health and social care in nursing homes. Felinotherapy is one of the options to make seniors active and support them in this in nursing homes. The goal of this study was to describe the methods and forms used for providing felinotherapy in nursing homes and to analyze its positive effects. This systematic study includes the secondary data analysis – monographs, academic articles and publications found in databases (PubMed). Although many authors have studied the effect of animals on human health, no long-term study proving the effect of felinotherapy on the health of seniors in nursing homes was found. We used the secondary analysis and the author’s experience with zoo therapy to identify the positive effects of felinotherapy in nursing homes in the following domains: (1) emotionally positive experiences, positive mood and the decrease of stress; (2) psychosocial support and physical contact with a cat; (3) positive relationship with animals and the ways of handling a cat; (4) training cognitive functions and reminiscence; (5) relaxation and training concentration; (6) social contact and the assistance in adaptation to nursing homes; (7) cats and caring for them as a conversation topic and a common interest; (8) stimulation and training of the senses; (9) movement, exercising the motoric system; (10) supporting autonomy and independence, gaining the feeling of security.

Keywords: Felinotherapy; Nursing home; Activities; Residential social service, zoo therapy; Cat assisted activity and therapy; Cat assisted intervention

Literatura

1. Bowman K, Allen JV, Wilgus SM, Woods L, Faber J (2017). Dynamic aging: simple exercises for wholebody mobility. Sequim, Washington: Propriometric­s Press.

2. Chandler C (2012). Animal-Assisted Therapy in Counseling. New York: Routledge Taylor and Francis Group.

3. Da Fonte E, Feitosa PH, de Oliveira Neto LT, de Araújo CL, Fiqueiroa JN, Alves JG (2016). Effects of a physical activity program on the quality of life among elderly people in Brazil. J Family Med Prim Care. 5(1): 139–142. DOI: 10.4103/2249–4863.184639.

4. Delta Society (2006). Animal Assisted Therapy. [online] [cit. 2006–01–03]. Available from: http:// deltasociety.or­g/Animals FAFAQ.htm

5. Dvořáčková D (2012). Kvalita života seniorů: v domovech pro seniory. [Quality of life of elderly people: in nursing]. Praha: Grada (Czech).

6. Ein N, Li L, Vickers K (2018). The effect of pet therapy on the physiological and subjective stress response: A meta-analysis. Stress Health 34(4): 477–489. DOI: 10.1002/smi.2812.

7. ESAAT (2011). Definition Tiergestützter Therapie. [online] [cit 2018–01–03]. Available from: http:// www.esaat.org/…ter-therapie (German).

8. Fine et al. (2015). Forward Thinking: The Elvoving Field of Human-Animal Interaction. In: Fine A. (Ed.). Handbook on Animal-Assisted Therapy. Foundations and Guidelines for Animal-Assisted Interventions. London, San Diego, Waltham: Academic Press, p. 23.

9. Freeman M (2005). Tvorba norem praxe canisterapie a její definice. [Creation of practice norms for canistherapy and its definition]. In: I. sborník příspěvků. Mezinárodní seminář o zooterapiích July 1–3, 2005; Brno, Czech Republic, pp. 10–17 (Czech).

10. Freeman M (2007). Terminologie v zooterapii. [Terminology in zoo therapy]. In: Velemínský M. a kol. Zooterapie ve světle objektivních poznatků. České Budějovice: Dona, pp. 30–37 (Czech).

11. Greiffenhagen S, Buck-Werner ON (2011). Tiere als Therapie. Neue Wege in Erziehung und Heilung. Lettland: Kynos Verlag (German).

12. Hahsler M (2011). Katzen: Seelenfreunde und therapeutische Helfer. Wienna: Verlagshaus der Arzte (German).

13. Hrozenská M, Dvořáčková D (2013). Sociální péče o seniory. [Social care of elderly people]. Praha: Grada (Czech).

14. Hypšová D (2007). Felinoterapie. [Feline therapy]. In: Velemínský a kol. Zooterapie ve světle objektivních poznatků. České Budějovice: Dona, pp. 263–278 (Czech).

15. IAHAIO White Paper (2013). The IAHAIO Definitions for Animal Assisted Intervention and Animal Assisted Activity and Guidelines for the Wellness of Animals Involved. [online] [cit. 2017–10–10]. Available from: http://iahaio.org/…E%20PAPER%20 TASK%20FORCE%20-%20FINAL%20RE­PORT.pdf

16. IAHAIO White Paper (2014). Definitions for Animal Assisted Intervention and Guidelines for the Wellness of Animal Involved. [online] [cit. 2018–01–03]. Available from: http://iahaio.org/new/ fileuploads/4163I­AHAIO%20WHITE%20PA­PER-%20FINAL%20–20NOW%2024–2014.pdf

17. Institut smyslové aktivizace (2018). Koncept smyslové aktivizace. [Concept of Sensual Activation]. [online] [cit 2018–01–03]. Available from: https://www.smyslovaaktivizace.cz/…p/okonceptu/ 93-koncept-smyslove-aktivizace (Czech).

18. Janečková H, Vacková M (2010). Reminiscence: využití vzpomínek při práci se seniory. [Reminiscence: Use of memories while working with seniors]. Praha: Portál (Czech).

19. Kårefjärd A, Nordgren L (2018). Effects of dog-assisted intervention on quality of life in nursing home residents with dementia. Scand J Occup Ther 25: 1–8. DOI: 10.1080/110381­28.2018.1467486.

20. Klevetová D (2017). Motivační prvky při práci se seniory. [Motivational elements when working with seniors]. 2nd revised ed. Praha: Grada Publishing (Czech).

21. Kohoutová P, Gardiánová I (2013). Využití koček v zooterapii. [Use of cats in zoo therapy]. Kontakt. 15(3): 282–288 (Czech).

22. Machová K, Poběrežský D, Svobodová I, Vačeková J (2017). A dog’s effect on clients’ heart rate and blood pressure and the possibilities of its use in relaxation. Journal of Nursing, Social Studies, Public Health and Rehabilitation 3–4: 146–152.

23. Malíková E (2011). Péče o seniory v pobytových sociálních zařízeních. [Senior care in residential social facilities]. Praha: Grada (Czech).

24. Matoušek O (2003). Slovník sociální práce. [Social Work Dictionary]. Praha: Portál, pp. 240–241 (Czech).

25. Neviani F, Belvederi Murri M, Mussi C, Triolo F, Toni G, Simoncini E et al. (2017). Physical exercise for late life depression: Effects on cognition and disa-bility. Int Psychogeriatr 29(7): 1105–1112. DOI: 10.1017/S10416­10217000576.

26. Nezávislý chovatelský klub (2018). Dobrovolnické týmy pracující v oblasti felinoterapie (nejen) pod záštitou NCHK [Volunteer teams working in the field of feline therapy (not only) under the auspices of NCHK]. [online] [cit 2018–01–03]. Available from: http://www.felinoterapie.estranky.cz/clanky/ dobrovolnicke-tymy-pracujici-v-oblasti-felinoterapie–nejen–pod-zastitou-nchk.html (Czech).

27. Odendaal J (2007). Zvířata a naše mentální zdraví: proč, co a jak. [Pets and our mental health: the why, the what and the how]. Praha: Brázda (Czech).

28. Peluso S, De Rosa A, De Lucia N, Antenora A, Illario M, Esposito M, De Michele G (2018). Animal- Assisted Therapy in Elderly Patients: Evidence and Controversies in Dementia and Psychiatric Disorders and Future Perspectives in Other Neurological Diseases. J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol 31(3): 149–157. DOI: 10.1177/089198­8718774634.

29. Pérez-Camargo G, Creagan ET (2018). The design of visitation facilities to engage patients with their own cats and dogs. Complement Ther Clin Pract 31: 193–199. DOI: 10.1016/j.ctcp­.2017.12.010.

30. Poskocil R (2012). Katzenhaltung in Alters- und Pflegeheimen: Ethologische Strategien, Effizienz für die Senioren, tierschutzrelevante Aspekte. Hamburg: Kovac, Dr. Verlag (German).

31. Preiss M, Křivohlavý J (2009). Trénování paměti a poznávacích schopností [Memory training and cognitive skills]. Praha: Grada (Czech).

32. Rückerová H (2012). Sibiřské kočky používané v zooterapii v ČR. [Siberian cats used in zoo therapy in the Czech Republic]. [online] [cit. 2018–01–03]. Available from: http://www.felinoterapie.estranky. cz/clanky/plemena-kocek-pouzivana-v-zooterapii/sibirske-kocky-pouzivane-v-zooterapii-v-cr.html (Czech).

33. Serpell JA (2010). Animal-Assisted Interventions in Historical Pespective. In: Fine AH. Handbook of Animal-Assisted Therapy. London, Burlington, San Diego: Academic Press, Elsevier, pp. 17–32.

34. Suchá J (2015). Trénink paměti pro každý věk. [Memory training for every age]. 2nd ed. Praha: Portál (Czech).

35. Sýkorová D (2007). Autonomie ve stáří: kapitoly z gerontosoci­ologie. [Autonomy in old age: chapters from gerontosociology]. Praha: Sociologické nakladatelství (Czech).

36. Šoltésová D, Skyba M (2015). Človiek, zviera, terapia [Human, animal, therapy]. Akupunktúra a naturálna medicína 5–6: 64–78 (Slovak).

37. Špatenková N, Bolomská B (2011). Reminiscenční terapie. [Reminiscent therapy]. Praha: Galén (Czech).

38. Vojtová H (2014). Smyslová aktivizace v české praxi. [Sensual activation in Czech practice]. Prachatice: Institut vzdělávání (Czech).

39. Wehner L, Schwinghammer Y (2013). Smyslová aktivizace v péči o seniory a klienty s demencí. [Sensual activation in the care of seniors and clients with dementia]. Praha: Grada (Czech).

40. Zákon č. 108 ze dne 14. března 2006, o sociálních službách, ve znění pozdějších předpisů. [Act No 108 of 14 March 2006 on social services]. In: Sbírka zákonů České republiky, 2006, částka 37, pp. 1257– 1289.

41. Žumárová M, Tesková J (2008). Pohled sociálního pedagoga na kvalitu života seniorů. Posuzování životní situace v sociální práci. [Social educator’s view of the quality of life of seniors. Assessment of the life situation in social work]. Hradec Králové: Gaudeamus (Czech).