Companion animals and the elderly: a state-of-the-art summary

The human/animal relationship exhibited by the elderly and their pets has limitations as well as potentials. The functions of a pet as a companion and social facilitator in pet-facilitated psychotherapy include serving as a cotherapist for facilitation of rapport, providing companionship, substituting for close interpersonal relationships (ie, significant others), enhancing the health status of a variety of target groups, increasing opportunity for sensory stimulation, and providing emotional support and a sense of well-being. Available information was limited because few studies have been replicated, data were not validated, and previous studies were restricted mainly to institutionalized or therapeutic environments. Implications for future research include use of animals for companionship and to promote the physical, social, and emotional health of the elderly.