Animal
Facilitated Therapy
What is Animal
Facilitated Therapy?
Animals
have been used in institutional settings for years to comfort lonely and
depressed patients, alleviate boredom, and help make facilities more
"homelike." The use of animals, especially dogs, by hospitals in actual
treatment sessions to assist patients work toward achievement of goals
related to speech, movement and socialization is a more recent development.
Northeast Rehab Hospital has
developed and maintained a very active Animal Facilitated Therapy Program,
organized and run by Ms. Linda Hume within the Therapeutic Recreation
Department. Ms. Hume is a certified service and hearing dog trainer, who
co-treats in 1:1 treatment sessions with patients. The program uses a
substantial core of volunteers and well-screened, highly-trained animals.
Animals are used within the context of traditional treatment sessions with
physical, occupational and speech therapists. Additionally, the animals also
make social visits to patients, delivering mail, going on rounds and
participating in many community educational presentations.
Contents:
Guidelines for
Development of an Animal Facilitated Treatment Program
Profile of an
Appropriate Therapy Dog
Before and After
the Dog's Visit
Communicating with
Confused or Sensory-impaired People-Guidelines for Volunteers
Animal Facilitated
Therapy in Speech Therapy Sessions
Animal Facilitated
Therapy in Occupational and Physical Therapy Sessions
General Guidelines
for Visiting Patients
Animal Facilitated
Therapy - Safety Guidelines
Infection Control in
Animal Facilitated Therapy
Stress in Therapy
Dogs: How to Recognize It, What to Do About It
Animal Training Tips
for Use in AFT
Proposed
Standards For Training and Use of Canines in Medical Rehabilitation
A few relevant links to information about
canines as sources of special service...
-
Dog Obedience and
Training
- General resource on training.
-
Canine Companions for
Independence
- Serving the needs of persons with
disabilities.
- Paws
with a Cause
- Trains and places dogs to help people with
disabilities perform activities of daily living. PAWS trains Hearing Dogs,
Service Dogs, Hearing/Guide Dogs, and Service/Guide Dogs--specifically for
the individual needs of each client.
-
Dog Play
- Diane Blackman's incredible treasure trove
of links to anything you can imagine related to dogs as humankinds best
friend including rich links to use of dogs in therapy and as sources of
assistance to persons with disabilities.
Last Updated:
09/07/05 |
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