Abstract
Three nursing homes in the Brisbane area took part in the study. The Moreton Bay Nursing Care Unit (20 females, 11 males) had a visiting dog (each week), the Returned Services League War Veterans Home (24 females, eight males) had a resident dog and the Wheeler Garden Settlement (25 females, seven males) the visiting researcher only (control). A desexed female whippet, 11 months old was used in this study.Tension and confusion were reduced in the nursing home with a resident dog (x2 = 21.18, d.f. = 10, P = 0.02; x2 = 35.42, d.f. = 10, P = 0.0001, respectively).The resident dog group showed significant decreases in depression (x2 = 31.19, d.f. = 10, P = 0.0005) as did the control group (x2 = 29.8, d.f. = 10, P = 0.0009; x2 = 23.4, d.f. = 10, P = 0.009).Significant increases in vigour were found in all three nursing homes (visiting dog, x2 = 43.91, d.f. = 10, P = 0.0005; resident dog, x2 = 42.92, d.f. = 10, P = 0.0005; control, x2 = 38.52, d.f. = 10, P = 0.0005).Fatigue decreased significantly in the visiting and resident dog groups (x2 = 21.58, d.f. = 10, P = 0.02; x2 = 19.45, d.f. = 10, P = 0.03, respectively).This long-term study indicates that there are many benefits from having a resident dog in a nursing home. However, if this is not an option, visiting dogs and/or visiting people improve the lives of nursing home residents.
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