Living with dementia magazine April 2011

It is often said that we are a nation of pet-lovers and many of us certainly enjoy the companionship of animals. For people with dementia it can bring added benefits, with research showing that interaction with animals can lead to improved well-being for people in care homes. A growing number of homes are developing pet-friendly policies and animal-related activities to harness these positive effects.

Jane Fossey is a clinical psychologist and a trustee of the Society for Companion Animal Studies (SCAS), which promotes the health and social benefits of human-animal interactions. Jane says,

'A number of small-scale studies suggest that introducing animals into care homes can have positive effects for people with dementia. For example, spending time with visiting animals has been shown to reduce blood pressure and anxiety, and improve social interaction and sleeping patterns. It can also reduce the late-afternoon restlessness that can affect people with dementia.'

These benefits are recognised in the NICE-SCIE guidelines on dementia,* which mention animal-assisted activities among various interventions that can help alleviate depression or anxiety in people with dementia.

Abbeywood care home in Surrey is a pioneer of the pet-friendly approach. As well as 50 residents, half of whom have dementia, it is home to a variety of animals including lop-eared rabbits, chickens and a cat. In addition, regular visits are arranged from a local farm and wildlife sanctuary, bringing animals such as lambs, ducklings, owls and hedgehogs to the home.

Alex Strong is the manager of Abbeywood, which is part of the Anchor group of housing and care services. She says,

'Having animals here makes a big difference to people's lives. Many people have had a pet in their life and if you go into a care home you should still be able to experience the joy and comfort animals bring.'

Alex has found that the presence of animals encourages people with dementia to engage with their surroundings and can also have a calming effect. She says,

'We had a lady here who couldn't communicate very well, except when she was stroking the cat - she would talk to it using whole sentences. Sometimes when residents are distressed, the presence of the cat or a rabbit will distract them from the cause of their anxiety and they will focus on the animal instead.'

Residents are encouraged to get involved with looking after the animals, for example by helping to collect eggs or clean out the chickens. Alex says,

'It gives them a sense of purpose and of well-being because they are caring for the animals.'

 A conversation topic

The presence of the animals can also trigger memories and create a topic for conversation when family members come to visit. Barbara Alexander has dementia associated with Parkinson's disease, and is a resident at Abbeywood. Her son Michael says,

'Often when I go and see Mum she'll take me outside to see the rabbits and the chickens. They make her happy because she's always had pets in her life and they provide stimulation. Conversation can be quite difficult because of Mum's dementia, but the animals give us something to talk about and help her to focus on a discussion.'

Abbeywood's pet policy makes it possible for residents to bring their own pets with them when they move in. This is relatively rare, with one study showing that 140,000 animals are given up each year when their owners go into care. Jane Fossey says,

'It is great to have animals visiting or living in homes, but there is a real difference between taking your own best friend with you and admiring someone else's best friend. In order to personalise care and enable people to live meaningful lives, care home staff need to think seriously about how to accommodate people's pets.'

A new resource will soon be available to help care homes adopt a more positive approach. The Pet Friendly Care Kit is being developed by SCAS in partnership with The Blue Cross, and will be published in summer.

Jane says,

'Often homes think it is quite complicated and they're not sure about issues such as animal welfare and health and safety. However there are some simple things they can do to ensure the well-being of residents and pets.'

For further information about the studies referred to or the toolkit, visit the SCAS website at www.scas.org.uk or call SCAS on 01933 867214.

*Dementia: supporting people with dementia and their carers in health and social care. This is joint guidance from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) and the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE).