Benefits of PAT

Bringing People and Pets Together to Enhance Well-Being and Education with Pet-Assisted Therapy

Benefits of PAT

Pet-Assisted Activities - Animal Assisted Activities

Activities are basically casual (meet and greet) involving pets visiting people. The same activity can be repeated with many people, unlike a therapy program that is customized to a particular person or medical condition.

Example of PAA: A team visits a hospital or long-term care facility. Children may interact and pet a dog or cat. Although staff is involved, they have not set therapeutic goals for the interactions. The team signs in and out, but is not required to keep records.

Pet-Assisted Therapy or Animal-Assisted Therapy

Therapy is a goal directed intervention that promotes improvement in human physical, social, emotional and/or cognitive function. It is offered by a health/human service provider with expertise in integrating animals as a treatment modality. This individual or team is a specialist in their field of expertise and knowledgeable about animals and behavior.

Example of PAT: A woman recovering from a brain injury has limited speech, standing and walking tolerance. A health care professional (doctor, physical, occupational or counseling therapist) may utilize the presence of a dog (or cat) to motivate the client by holding or standing nearby with a dog, and ask the client to reach (within the scope of ability) to touch the dog. To increase the client’s ambulation or speech compensatory skills, the therapist may ask the client talk to the dog or walk a short distance. Handlers use a double lead in all visits, walking alongside the client. Records are kept on progress. There is a pre-determined commitment / contract to visit regularly with this client.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?

Physiological:

Animals can contribute to the patient's recovery from an illness.
The presence of animals has been found to lower blood pressure.
Caring for animals may increase a person's self-care skills.

Psychological, Therapeutic and Social:

Engaging the client in conversation / interaction / cooperation
Building rapport and trust

Good for emotional well-being

Aids the therapists in treatment objectives with the client: Tasks, Goals, Responsibilities.
Motivational factors enhance cognitive behavioral change and task completion.
Socializing: the animal is a catalyst helping to break down barriers of communications.
Self-management and monitoring of emotional and behavioral changes by client and therapist through writing, drawing, observations of verbal and non-verbal language.
Social Phobias and Fear

Unconditional positive regard and companionship

A reason for living – being needed
Increased self esteem / confidence / mastery / empowerment
Increased problem solving skills
Increased attention span
Increased ability to organize and concentrate
Facilitates expression of feelings
Increasing perceptual skills
Develops understanding and sensitivity in relationships
Provides Humor to lighten situations.
Mental stimulation: Visiting dogs cause a chain reaction of laughs and conversation among clients, staff and family members.
People from dramatically different cultures and lifestyles can talk about their dogs. The common experiences allow people to initiate conversation, share moments, laugh / cry.

Pet-Assisted Therapy can be applied in different settings and with different forms of therapy. Animals can be used in the following treatment settings: psychotherapy, occupational and physical therapy, recreational therapy, speech and language therapy, in hospitals, prisons, rehabs, mental health clinics, private practice and nursing/assisted living facilities.

Speech and Language:

Initiates speech

Improve description skills
Improve auditory memory skills
Improve articulation skills, voice quality, fluency

Physical:

Increased balance
Increased endurance, stamina, energy
Increased mobility, flexibility
Increased use of affected extremities
Increased strength and coordination
Increased fine and gross motor skills

PAT Therapeutic Goals