Elizabeth Hames, DO, CMD: No relevant financial relationships.
Kenya M. Rivas, MD, FAAFP, CMD: No relevant financial relationships.
This session will provide health care professionals with an overview of animal-assisted therapy in the PALTC continuum. Program numbers have been increasing, which reflects the changing perceptions, relationships, and view of the human-animal bond in current society. Strategies for implementation, clinical benefits, infection-control issues, and logistical challenges will be discussed. A review of current literature will be provided, and examples of successful programs as well as challenges and barriers to implementation will be covered. An interactive, case-based format will be utilized during the session.
Learning Objectives:
At the completion of this session, learners will be able to:
Describe successful animal-assisted therapy programs in the PALTC continuum
Understand clinical benefits of animal-assisted therapy programs to patients in PALTC
Describe the challenges of animal-assisted therapy programs to the geriatric workforce and PALTC facilities
Describe strategies for reducing barriers to animal-assisted therapy program implementation
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