Nursing Homes And Pet Therapy

The survey was carried out descriptively in order to determine opinions of elders and health personnel in rest homes regarding therapy with pets. Sampling of the survey was composed of 174 elders who participated in the survey from Necla Kızılbağ, Süleyman Demirel, Seyran Bağları and Ümitköy Rest Home, Elderly Care and Rehabilitation Centers, located within the provincial borders of Ankara, serving affiliated to Social Services and Child Protection Institution.Data were collected by means of two separate data collection forms developed by the surveyor. Data collection forms consisted of two separate sections. In the first section, there were questions related to socio-demographic characteristics of elders and health personnel; and in the second section, there were questions for establishment of opinions of them regarding therapy with pets. Data collection forms developed for elders were completed by the surveyor through face-to-face interview with elders. Data collection forms developed for health personnel were distributed to health personnel in rest homes and retrieved after they were completed. Data encoding and assessment procedures were carried out by the surveyor by means of SPSS 13.5 program in computer. Chi-square test was used for assessment of data.Following results were obtained in the survey: 70.1 % of elders expressed that they kept pets before, 81.6 % expressed that they do not have any information regarding therapy with pets, 87.4 % expressed that they love animals, 73 % expressed that this therapy can be applied in our country. It was found out that all of those who find it applicable want to benefit from this therapy at the same time.In Süleyman Demirel Rest Home where pets exist, despite the fact that elders find therapy with pets applicable in our country is not significant statistically ( p> 0.05 ), it was found at a higher rate. When the fact that elders who kept pets before find therapy with pets applicable in our country and that they want to benefit from this therapy was compared with those who have not kept pets before, it was found out that the difference between them is significant statistically (p < 0.05).34 health personnel participated in the survey. 22 health personnel stated that they kept pets before and 24 health personnel stated that this therapy can be applied in our country.