In This Chapter
■How companion animals are nurturing
patients and supporting healing in hospi-
tals, rehabilitation treatments, and long-
term care environments.
■How companion animals can increase the
healing power of the home in convalescing
patients.25 Animal-Assisted Therapy
Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) is defined as the use of specifically selected
animals as a treatment method in health and human service settings. AAT
has been steadily gaining in popularity in the United States and has been
shown to be a successful intervention for people with a variety of physi-
cal or psychological conditions. Despite reluctance and skepticism on the
part of many administrators of health care facilities, nurses have often
advocated the use of animals as a therapeutic intervention. One of the
earliest recorded observations of a connection between animals and
health was made by Florence Nightingale in 1860 when she noted, “a
small pet is often an excellent companion for the sick, for long chronic
cases especially.” She further suggested that whenever possible, patients
should participate in the care of the animal because this activity was help-
ful to their recovery. Long banned from health care facilities, dogs, cats,
and other pets are gradually being welcomed with open arms.