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Updated: May 13, 2026

Assessment of Dependence in Activities of Daily Living Among Older Patients in an Acute Care Unit
Published on: September 30, 2020
[Animal-assisted therapy for demented patients in acute care hospitals]
1Medizinisch-Geriatrische Klinik, Diakonissen-Krankenhaus, Agaplesion Frankfurter Diakonie-Kliniken, Holzhausenstr. 72-92, 60322, Frankfurt am Main, Deutschland. rupert.puellen@fdk.info
Introduction:
In nursing homes animal-assisted therapy has been applied in demented elderly patients for several years. There are no studies on this treatment in hospitals, especially in geriatric departments.
Methods:
From September 2010 to November 2011 105 in-patients, among them 77 female, participated in a 30 min dog-assisted group therapy (mean age 84,4 ± 6,56 years). The patients had cognitive and functional impairments (mean MMSE 18 points, mean Barthel Index 34,6 points).
Results:
Adverse events were not observed. Thirteen patients discontinued the treatment early, due to different reasons. The psychologist, who attended the treatment, observed an improvement of mood in 58 % and an improvement in activity in 54 %.
Discussion And Conclusion:
Animal assisted therapy can be safely established in a hospital among patients with cognitive impairment. The data support the hypothesis that animal assisted therapy improves mood, communication and activity in patients with cognitive impairment.
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