A Preliminary Study Examining the Feasibility of Mini-Pig Assisted Activity for Elderly People in Nursing Homes in Japan

Abstract

This study examined the effects of introducing a mini-pig in an Animal Assisted Intervention (AAI) to increase the quality of life for elderly people in Japan. Two intensive-care nursing homes and a day-care center located in Tokyo were selected for this study. In one of the intensive-care nursing homes and the day-care center, a mini-pig AAI was carried out twice in a two month period with more than one week between each activity. In the other nursing home, the AAI was carried out once. In each facility, 10 to 25 clients, who were between 70 and 95 years of age, participated in the activity. Each session was 30 to 40 min long. A total of 68 participants participated in the study: 55 older adults participated in the mini-pig AAI and 13 caregivers provided feedback. There were seven older adults without dementia, and their relaxation levels were measured before and after the mini-pig AAI using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). The caregivers filled out a questionnaire after the activity in the three facilities. Two clients showed improvement on their level of relaxation after the mini-pig AAI. The caregivers’ evaluations elicited the following answers frequently regarding the responses of the older participants: ‘exhibited expression never seen in daily life’, ‘became more expressive and animated’, and ‘looked forward to participating in the next activity’, In conclusion, the mini-pig AAI was found to be effective similarly to companion dogs and, in some cases, even better as it was novel to see and touch a mini-pig.