Effects of Pets versus People Visits with Nursing Home Residents

This study sought to isolate the value of a pet, using pet facilitated therapy, within long term care facilities, to answer the question as to whether the visits themselves may be the contributing factor to changes in outcome or the pet itself. Residents in two long-term care settings were compared. Using the Geriatric Depression Scale and Profile of Mood Disorders to assess changes over a six-month period, one patient group received visits from volunteers who brought a dog; a matched group received visits without a dog. Results show a significant, positive change in mood for those receiving visits from volunteers with a dog. While there was a similar trend in depression, the differences were not significant.