pets and the ageing 19 nov 2013 · pets motivate and encourage the elderly in particular to stay...
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CAULFIELD SOUTH VETERINARY CLINIC Caring for pets and their owners for over 35
years Dedicated facilities and caring staff Full range of services, including 24 hour
emergency service
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CONTACT US Address: 463 Hawthorn Road Caulfield South
Victoria 3162 Phone: 03 9528 2525 After hours: 03 9528 4755 Website: www.thecaringclinic.com.au Email: [email protected] Find us on facebook! “Caulfield south veterinary clinic”
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Dr Onn Ben-David OAM • Registered Veterinary Practitioner • Principle and founder of Caulfield South
Veterinary Clinic • Animal Welfare Advocate • Fellow of the Australian Veterinary Association • RSPCA Victoria Director 1979 to 2012 • RSPCA Vice President 1980 to 2008 • Veterinary Advisor CSTDA 2012 onward
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Pets & The Elderly Caulfield Shulle 19/11/2013
Presentation Topics 1. Pet ownership statistics & benefits 2. The human - animal bond & the elderly 3. Pets in aged care facilities 4. Pets for people with disability 5. Basic pet care 6. Delivery of pet assisted programs.
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Pet Populations 2013 www//petsinaustralia.com.au
More then 25 million pets 63% of homes have at least one pet (5 out of 7.3mil homes) One of the highest in the world Dogs 4.2mil (19 for 100), 32% Cat 3.3mil (15 for 100), 29% Fish10.7 mil Birds 4.8 mil Other pockets pests 2.2mil (Rabbit, Guinea Pigs, etc.)
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Benefits of Pet Ownership
The ownership and contact with pets help us live longer happier and more active lives.
Pets offer companionship, affection and a reason to keep active.
Ownership of a pet at any stage of our lives is very rewarding and beneficial to the entire family.
The effects on the aging and elderly are particularly profound.
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Pet Owners Health Facts
Visit the doctor less Have less of a need for medication Lower cholesterol Lower blood pressure Deal better with stress Quicker recovery from illness and surgery Less likely to feel lonely.
www.stratacommunity.org.au/strata-living/benefits-pet-ownership
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The Human-Animal Bond and the Elderly
Help decreases a feeling of loneliness & isolation and gives the person a feeling of being needed.
Pets motivate and encourage the elderly in particular to stay healthy and active, exercise, be mobile and leave the house.
Pets are great stress relievers, they assists in decreasing blood pressure and lower cholesterol, thus help reduce the need of medications.
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Human- Animal Bond cont.
Having a dependant pet at home means owners tend to want to recover quicker from illness and surgery.
Having a pet helps improve reminiscence & communication. Deal better with stress & less likely
to feel or be lonely. 19/11/2013 Pets and the aging 9
Diversity of Pet Animals Dogs – Keeps owner active with walking and
activities. Unconditional love and affection. Cats – Calming, lap warmer, quiet affection Birds – easy to care for, minimal grooming, social
creatures, attractive to look at, inexpensive to feed, minimal space, not considered “pets” at rentals.
Fish – extremely relaxing to watch, easy to care for, inexpensive to keep, minimal space.
Rabbits & Guinea pigs – easy to care for, can be trained.
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Dogs – keep owner active with walking and activities. Unconditional love and affection.
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Cats – calming, lap warmer, quiet affection
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Birds – easy to care for, minimal grooming, social creatures, inexpensive to feed, minimal space, attractive to look at, not considered “pets” at rentals.
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Rabbits & Guinea pigs – easy to care for, can be trained trained
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GUINEA PIGS
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Fish – extremely relaxing to watch, easy to care for, inexpensive to keep, minimal space
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Pets In Aged Care Facilities
There are several ways we can utilize pets in aged care homes, “Visiting pets” mainly dog “Live in” with owners “Live in” the facility Combinations options All require a similar health and welfare consideration to the pet.
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Pets in Aged Care Facilities Elderly pet owners who must enter aged
care facilities often report feelings of loss when they have to leave their pets behind.
Pets provide valuable interventions helping to permanently improve the atmosphere of facility and nursing homes
Pet therapy has been proven to provide many of the benefits of pet ownership
:
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The Benefits www.deltasociety.com.au/
Mental stimulation. Improve interaction entertainment and enjoyment. Shifting of focus. Often residents (esp. long
term) concentrate too much on themselves. Animals provide a new focus of conversation
Acceptance. Animals accept people unconditionally which is heart-warming and soothing for residents.
Increased self esteem. and alertness through a sense of responsibility.
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The Benefit Cont. Perceived loss of freedom & responsibility;
animals can add purpose and inspiration to the life of the residence
Entertainment. Pets inspire humour, good times and laughs.
Rapport. Pets are emotionally safe and non-threatening. They don’t discriminate or impose demands. Pets live for the moment, interacting with them often helps residents concentrate on the present and stop dwelling on the past
or worrying about the future. 19/11/2013 Pets and the aging 20
The Benefit cont. Development of empathy. Animal’s are
easier to ‘read’ than humans and interaction with pets can help develop an individual’s sense of empathy as they reason
to the animals needs.
Reminiscing. Caring for pets encourages adherence to a daily schedule and will often evoke wonderful memories of the past 19/11/2013 Pets and the aging 21
The Benefit cont. www.goldencares.com
Improvement in physical activity. Caring for a pet dog may encourage physical activity: playing with a ball and going for a walk.
Socialization. Most people love animals and will enjoy sharing time together in the company of animals, talking and laughing together.
Physiological benefits. Having a pet may enhance the immunity system as well as give spiritual fulfilment. An animal’s love is unconditional.
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AWLA Survey 2013 Pets In Aged Care Facilities
Current survey was so far taken up by a very small group
Majority of responded rating their facilities as highly pet friendly. Not a representative sample, see next slide Online survey /address
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AWLA 2013 Interim Results Pets in aged care facility
Around 65% have on-site shared pets Most popular on-site pets are birds, followed by
cats, then dogs Around 68% have a visiting pets program 98% allow family and friends to bring pets when
they visit residents 88% rate access to pets in aged care facilities as
either very important or vitally important 82% are happy to share info with other facilities
(policies & working models) 19/11/2013 Pets and the aging 24
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Dogs for People with Disability
The use of animals as treatment for people with disability is becoming more recognised & more widely practiced.
The aim is to improve the persons emotional, social
cognitive and functional wellbeing Improve quality of life and enhance independence and social inclusion. 19/11/2013 Pets and the aging 25
SERVICE / THERAPY DOG Studies show that even a short visit by a
therapy dog to a nursing home can help ease agitation in people with Alzheimer’s The calming nature and affection of the pet & the relaxing benefit of stroking & petting helps slow the heart and lower blood pressure
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Dog Care Basic Principles
Housing Nutritional care Health & wellbeing Grooming & coat care Exercise & socialisation Environmental stimulation and enrichments Training
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DOG CARE - DELIVERY Essential to follow an effective protocol /program
based on the individual situation of the dog the person and the home/ family involved
Comply with Local legislations, POCTAA & the Domestic Animal Act, Aged care
facility policy and protocol Policy’s & Protocols – should be individualized & formalized with clear line of responsibilities and accountability The welfare of the dog must not be
compromised 19/11/2013 Pets and the aging 28
CAULFIELD SOUTH VETERINARY CLINIC THANK YOU!!!!
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