Where persons, animals, and environments meet: exploring animal interactions in person-centered dementia daycare

Animal interaction may represent a non-pharmacological approach to dementia care, providing opportunities for meaningful engagement and participation. This study aimed to explore how older adults living with dementia, their relatives, and care workers experience human–animal–environment interactions in dementia care. A mixed-methods design combined personal walking interviews with nine older adults, interviews with six relatives, a focus group walking interview with five care workers, mapping of animal interaction opportunities, and exploratory video recordings using smart glasses with four older adults. Qualitative data were analyzed using inductive content analysis and deductive analyses informed by animal categories and the zone model of contact with the outdoors. Quantitative data from the video recordings were analyzed descriptively. Animal interactions were found to support emotional wellbeing, social interaction, meaningful participation, activity, and connections to previous life experiences. Companion animals were associated with companionship, security, and physical contact; farm animals with activity, care, observation, and life-history experiences; and wild animals with curiosity, observation, and outdoor engagement. Animals were present across all four zones in the zone model, with a prominent animal focus in Zones 2 and 3. The findings indicate that human–animal–environment interaction is a relational and context-dependent dimension of dementia care. Integrating One Health, person-centered care, and the zone model highlights animals as a cross-cutting dimension that can broaden opportunities for engagement and participation within dementia care environments. Recognizing animal interaction as an everyday relational possibility, rather than solely as a structured intervention, may open new perspectives for person-centered dementia care.