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Equine-Assisted Intervention for People with Dementia

Bibliographic Data

ID2609443
AuthorsHolly Dabelko-Schoeny (The Ohio State University), Holly Dabelko‐schoeny (0000-0002-0952-819X), Gary Phillips (The Ohio State University), Emily Darrough (The Ohio State University), Sarah Deanna (The Ohio State University), Marie Jarden (The Ohio State University), Denise Johnson (0000-0002-6735-9179, The Ohio State University), Gwendolen Lorch (0000-0001-6443-704X, The Ohio State University)
Year2014
Volume27
Issue1
Pages141-155
Publication date2014-03-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueAnthrozoös (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0892-7936 • E-ISSN: 1753-0377
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.2752/175303714x13837396326611
OpenAlexW2070585888
LanguageEN
Citations received6
References cited29

The purpose of this exploratory study was to determine the feasibility and effectiveness of using guided interactions with horses as a nonpharmaceutical intervention to improve the physiological and behavioral states of persons with dementia. A convenience sample of persons with dementia was recruited from an adult day health center (n = 16). A multi-component intervention was implemented comprised of opportunities for grooming, painting, and leading horses. Using a randomized pretest-posttest crossover design, researchers compared participants receiving the equine-assisted intervention with participants receiving treatment as usual. Older persons with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias engaged positively in animal-assisted therapy with horses. A reduction in behavioral problems was found post intervention in contrast to the comparison group. Pre-intervention measures showed that participants exhibited lower levels of disruptive behaviors compared with the control group on the days they were scheduled to work with the horses. Interestingly, cortisol levels, used as a physiological measure of coping with stress, were elevated after the intervention in participants with higher Mini Mental State Examination scores. Equine-assisted interventions are feasible and possibly beneficial for adults with Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia disorder, such as those enrolled in adult day health programs. Future studies should utilize multiple methods of assessing impact and include process measures to delineate which specific activities seem to provide the most benefit.Keywords: adult day carealzheimer's diseasecortisoldementiaelderlyequine-assisted therapy

Animal welfare · Animal-assisted therapy · Dementia · Disease · HUBzero · Intervention (counseling · Pet therapy · Physical therapy · Psychiatry · Psychological intervention · Health, psychology, and well-being · Human-Animal Interaction Studies · Medicine · Psychology · Veterinary Practice and Education Studies · Clinical Psychology · Internal Medicine

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  • Médiation animale chez des patients présentant des troubles neuro-évolutifs

    Alexis Minouflet, Khelifa Hamouchi et al.•Gérontologie et société•2026

  • Documented Outcomes for Older Adults in Intergenerational Programming

    Kathy Lee, Shannon Jarrott et al.•Journal of Intergenerational…•2020

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    Open Access•Rachel Collins, Steve Owens et al.•Health & Social Care in the…•2023

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    Open Access•Nancy R Gee, Megan K Mueller•Anthrozoös•2019

  • Older Adults’ Perceived Benefits of Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy

    Open Access•Kathy Lee, Holly Dabelko-Schoeny et al.•Research on Social Work Practice•2019

  • Physiology and Neurobiology of Stress and Adaptation

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  • Prevalence and Impact of Caregiving

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    Open Access•Jens Pruessner, J C Pruessner et al.•Life Sciences•1997

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    M P Lawton, K Van Haitsma et al.•The Journals of Gerontology…•1996

  • Construct Validity of Animal-Assisted Therapy and Activities

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Unique citing works6
Citations per year0,86
Citation span2019 - 2026 (8)
Citation velocitycurrent
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 6
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