opportunity to share stories of animals the residents may have had in the past.
Many people like to stroke the animal while talking about the pets that shared their
lives.
Three significant problems that manifest within traditional long-term care facilities
are loneliness, helplessness, and boredom. They often have not served as homes for
people, but rather as institutions in which to store them. Residents may be intensely
lonely, with long stretches of empty time. The basic concept of the Eden
Alternative—a new approach to long-term care—is quite simple: Long-term care
facilities are viewed as habitats for human beings rather than institutions for the
frail and elderly. The Eden Alternative seeks to eliminate the problems of loneliness,
helplessness, and boredom by providing interaction with companion animals, the
opportunity to care for other living things, and a milieu of variety and spontaneity.
“Edenized” facilities share a commitment to change the system, and not just
through “fur and feathers.” Quality of life is emphasized as much as the quality of
care. Residents and employees alike are encouraged to play a role in making that
quality atmosphere happen. Administrators recognize that the care a resident
receives is usually completed in three to four hours of the day, leaving 20 hours to
live a life. As the U.S. population ages, and with growing frustration with traditional
systems, long-term care facilities will have to be managed far differently than they
are today. The Eden Alternative is the most innovative reform effort to date.
What Are the Goals of Animal-Assisted Therapy?
In AAT, an accredited professional guides the human-animal interaction toward spe-
cific, individualized therapeutic goals. In one treatment session, a variety of goals
can be addressed: physical goals such as range of motion, balance, and mobility;
cognitive goals such as improved memory or verbal expression; emotional goals
such as increased self-esteem and motivation; and social goals such as building rap-
port and improved socialization skills. Linda Hume, L.P.N., an AAT specialist, has
developed a program of animal facilitation in occupational and physical therapy at
Northeast Rehabilitation Hospital in Salem, New Hampshire. The following are a
few of the goals and activities she has identified for AAT in her clinical setting:
■ Increased upper extremity range of motion: Throw an object for dog to
retrieve; use of leash to maneuver dog; pet, stroke, brush animal
■ Mobility: Ambulate with dog
■ Improved coordination: Throw an object for dog to retrieve (releasing); reach-
ing for object dog has retrieved
■ Improved memory: Asked to recall dog’s name, breed, age, etc.; commanding
dog to sit and remembering to release dog from command
CHAPTER 25 ANIMAL-ASSISTED THERAPY 307
