Animal-assisted support programs for residents in Canadian long-term care homes: a feasibility and acceptability...

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Animal-assisted interventions
• Healthcare quality improvement

Background:

• Animal-assisted support programs (AASPs) show potential for enhancing mental health and well-being in older adults, including those in long-term care (LTC).
• Limited research exists on resident and staff perspectives regarding AASPs in LTC settings.
• This study explores LTC staff, resident, and community member views on implementing AASPs in Canadian LTC homes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify LTC staff perspectives on the feasibility and acceptability of live AASPs.
• To understand factors influencing AASP implementation in LTC.
• To supplement staff perspectives with insights from LTC residents and community members.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with LTC staff, residents, and community members in Alberta, Canada.
• Interviews took place between 2022 and 2023.
• Thematic analysis, following Braun and Clarke's recommendations, was used to analyze interview data.

Main Results:

• Eighteen individuals participated: 14 LTC staff, 2 LTC residents, and 2 community members.
• Four themes emerged: experiences with animals, acceptability/benefits of AASPs, challenges/mitigators, and preferences/recommendations.
• Key findings indicate perceived mood and social engagement improvements, alongside challenges like animal phobias.

Conclusions:

• AASPs offer significant potential benefits for LTC residents and staff, particularly in enhancing mood and social interaction.
• Participant insights are crucial for addressing implementation challenges, such as fear of animals.
• Findings will guide the design of an AASP intervention for a pilot study in LTC settings.