Perceptions and Experiences of Animal-Assisted Interventions for People Living With Dementia: A Qualitative Evidence Synthesis.
Dou Zhang, Marita Hennessy, Qiuxia Li and 3 others
PMID 39370550WHAT IT FOUND
People with dementia often engage with animal-assisted interventions after initial hesitation, driven by prior positive experiences with animals.
Success depends on flexible, individualized sessions and staff training to manage sensory overload, fall risks, and behavioral challenges in care homes.
Key findings
01Willingness to engage in animal-assisted interventions often depends on prior experience with animals, but initial resistance can decrease after a few sessions if staff encourage participation.
02Interactions provide multidimensional sensory and cognitive stimulation, triggering memories and social connection, though they can also evoke difficult memories or cause confusion.
03Safe implementation requires individualized approaches, staff training in dementia care and animal behavior, and specific safety measures to prevent falls, bites, and sensory overload.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPsWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Limited data directly from people with dementia; many findings relied on staff or care partner reports. Geographic concentration in the United States and Sweden, limiting global transferability. Inability to compare effectiveness across different animal types due to varied intervention designs. Many primary studies lacked reporting on researcher reflexivity and ethical considerations. Mixed study designs and small sample sizes in the included qualitative studies.
Declared interests
The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The study was funded by the China Scholarship Council.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume animal-assisted interventions are universally beneficial or safe for all people with dementia. Prior negative experiences with animals, fear, allergies, or sensory overload can cause distress or agitation. Furthermore, physical risks like falls or bites are real, especially in equine programs, and require strict safety protocols and staff training.