Pets and the Elderly

Here is an excellent “how-to” guide for initiating pet-facilitated therapy programs with the elderly. Pets and the Elderly is a practical book that explains how to implement carefully planned programs in residential and nursing homes and in geriatric and psychiatric hospitals, with pets in residence or as visitors.

Cusack, Odean; Smith, Elaine

Contents A Brief Introduction to Animal-Facilitated Therapy - The Therapists' Casebook - The Human/Animal Bond - Training a Therapy Dog - Implementing Animal Therapy in the Institution - A Dog (or Cat) in Residence - Program Suggestions for Animal-Facilitated Therapy - Pet Visitation Programs - Therapy Dogs in Action - Animal-Facilitated Therapy in the Community - Non-Canine Therapists - Evaluating the Program - Bibliography and Selected Readings - Appendix I: Therapy Dogs International - Appendix II: Organizations Involved in Pet Therapy - Appendix III: Current Legislation - Appendix IV: JACOPIS Assessment Procedures