Animal-assisted Therapy (AAT) is defined as the use of specifically selected animals as a treatment modality in health and human service settings. Treatment plans are developed by professionals within the scope of their practice. The application of AAT is different than Animal-assisted Activities (AAA), which are more recreational focused. Both programs are supported by volunteers who give of their and their animal's time to help the improve the quality of life of people who are no longer able to enjoy the company of pets in their immediate environment.
Many different animals can be utilized to provide AAT. Most often, dogs have been seen in health facilities such as nursing homes. However, cats and their owners are becoming more involved in therapeutic interaction. Nursing homes and well-aged facilities are beginning to move past the social interaction visitation activities to center on specific planned therapeutic programs that involve felines.
Pets and People: Companions in Therapy & Service is a non-profit all volunteer agency founded in 1994. Part of the mission of this program is to provide animal-assisted therapy support to health and human services programs. To assist in the fulfillment of this mission, Pets and People has begun to develop selection criteria for therapy cats, a therapy cat certification program, and therapeutic directives to assist professionals in planning, implementing, and measuring treatment outcomes.
Until recently, the organization has worked with Kintoi Cattery's Abyssinians and American Shorthairs. Then Lynne Johnston's Scottish Fold, Meyer, joined the program. Working with shorthaired cats was beneficial, but treatment plans were beginning to be identified that centered around using a long haired cat. So a search began to find a suitable Persian to work in the program. The quest has been rewarding. Yvonne Griffin has generously shared her black girl, GRC/RW Bovon's Sweet Charity. In addition, Madame Nu's Turning Stone, a tortoiseshell will soon be joining the program.
So what can a person do with a Persian in a therapy program, you may ask? That is the focus of this article. First let me caution the readers that not every cat is going to work well in a therapy program. Our cats are specifically selected for temperament, companionability, and interaction. Although all cats are welcome to apply and participate, we have found that cats who have been shown are often excellent candidates for therapy work. The second major criteria is that the cat has a person who is willing to volunteer time and energy in order to share their cat with others.
Cats provide unconditional love. The Persian is well suited, with a sweet disposition and a calm nature to participate in AAT. When working with residents in nursing homes the focus is often on reality orientation, reminiscence, and social interaction. Many clients like to hold the cat, stroke their coat, and talk about the animals who shared their lives. For clients who are rehabilitating from neurological conditions like strokes, arthritis, or multiple sclerosis, the Persian can provide excellent muscle and joint therapy. With these clients, the plan centers on grooming activities. Gripping and moving grooming implements requires both fine and gross muscle activities. Combing the cat also assists with the development an awareness of the person's body positioning in relation to another object, the cat. Another activity that promotes joint range of motion is playing with a cat toy. Be it playing with a tease, or throwing a catnip mouse, joint mobility is increased. Working with clients who have mental health disorders is especially challenging. People who are agitated become calm when they begin to pet or groom a cat. Those who are apathetic and depressed often will choose to become involved with the cat rather than remain self secluded. The cats in the Pets and People program have been particularly important to the children and adolescents in a mental health treatment program. Children have learned cat husbandry skills as part of their therapy. These children feed, groom, bathe the cats and even brush their teeth. From this interaction, many of these children have learned to better care for their own hygiene and nutrition needs.
Besides providing therapeutic intervention in a number of agencies, Pets and People is actively involved in AAT research. The organization supports the research endeavors of graduate nursing students from the University of Southern Mississippi and Louisiana State University. Volunteers are currently working in Canada, Israel, and throughout the United States.
In order to qualify as a Pets and People therapy cat, a candidate must: Be at least one year of age before enrolling in the program. This provides the facility with the knowledge that the cat has been effectively socialized, is companionable, and is comfortable interacting with numerous people in a crowded setting. Additionally, a cat's immune system is more stabilized by this age. Older cats are less likely to become ill when exposed to various hospital borne microbes. Be fully inoculated. This includes routine vaccinations as well as rabies. This requirement insures that the cats are healthy and meet public health standards. Pass a veterinarian's health screening assessment. This also verifies the cat's health. Participate in a feline specific temperament test. Be extensively home socialized to various situations including, if possible, dogs, other cats, loud noises, crowds, and frequent handling. These activities guarantee that the cat and clients will have positive experiences. Have a human partner who is willing to complete a training session that outlines the activities of Pets and People. This requirement verifies that the handler is familiar with health care environments, zoonotic concerns, animal and human stress, and is able to interact with agency staff and clients. Appropriate matching between the volunteer/cat team and the agency requesting therapeutic intervention is important. Having members of a therapeutic treatment team accept the volunteer/cat team as effective members is also important. To assist in the appropriate application of AAT techniques, the following format is primarily implemented. An animal-assisted therapist meets with an administrative representative of the facility. This person is often accompanied by a therapy cat. At this time, general therapy goals are discussed, arrangements for therapy and interaction times identified, and the type of group or individual interaction determined. When the program is outlines and established, the therapist meets with the therapeutic treatment staff to assist in the selection of clients for the therapeutic intervention. The therapeutic treatment staff and the animal-assisted therapist meet with clients to assist in developing individual and group therapy plans. Specific goals are set for each client. Also at this time, assessment of animal allergies or phobias can be determined. The animal-assisted therapist arranges with volunteers to provide cats who best meet the needs of the therapy situation. Sometimes the clients re best served by a cat and dog team. This can be arranged through Pets and People. Volunteers are appraised of the types of clients and the therapeutic goals which whom they will be working. Volunteers work in a specific setting for a specific amount of time. The plan includes taking the same cats to the same clients, by the same volunteer/cat team, on the same day of the week, and at the same time of the day. This consistency helps clients anticipate the interactions and provides for more involvement in the program. Since therapeutic decisions may be based partly on the AAT sessions, consistency is important. After the therapy session is complete, volunteers and therapeutic staff meet to evaluate the interactions. Each person contributes their observations and assessments of each session. The therapeutic staff then notes the client's progress toward the predetermined goal in the health care or therapy record.
In addition to specific therapy applications, Pets and People felines and their human partners do visitation and education programs. Some common examples are senior citizen centers, schools, nursing homes, and hospitals. Visitation has no set treatment plan, is interactive in nature, and may or may not be documented.
One aspect of Animal-assisted work that is rarely discussed is insurance. Often agencies will not ask about liability insurance. As a non-profit organization, Pets and People insures every member handler with a one million dollar liability insurance policy. Important is that if someone happens to be injured, or property damaged in the course of a visit, the human volunteer has some liability protection.
Pets and People volunteer educators are available for workshops and volunteer orientation programs. For more information about becoming involved with this program, please contact:
Want to learn more? In addition to subscribing to the list above, read "Volunteering with Your Pet: How to Get Involved in Animal-Assisted Therapy with Any Kind of Pet" by Mary R. Burch. If you can't find a copy locally, your purchase from the Dogwise Network will also benefit Pets and People.