tud Human animal bond within the context of dementia - Möglichkeiten tiergestützter Intervention für das psychosoziale Wohlbefinden und die Lebensqualität alter und dementer Menschen in stationären Einrichtungen 2014-11-26 [Electronic ed.] 4519974-7 Saechsische Landesbibliothek- Staats- und Universitaetsbibliothek Dresden prv Saechsische Landesbibliothek- Staats- und Universitaetsbibliothek Dresden, Dresden Fakultät Erziehungswissenschaften Professur für Beratung und Rehabilitation female Plauen It has already been established that animals have various constitutional effects on humans and influence quality of life and well-being in various ways (see Nestmann 2005). For a lot of people in all stages of their life, pets are important sources of support. They are able to contribute to our health as well as to buffer stress and illness. Especially elderly and frail people take profit from the human animal bond. Pets may be seen as important agents in support and therapy of people with dementia. Besides offering emotional support in times of struggle and loneliness, pets can even have a healing influence in situations of physical or mental illness. Since the 1960s animals have been used in professional and therapeutic settings. Even retirement and nursing homes experience the psychosocial benefits of animal assisted activities and integrate animals successfully in the daily routine of the residents. The longitudinal field study “Animals at the Johanniter-Stift Nursing Home” is the first to investigate the effects of animal assisted activities on the quality of life and well-being of elderly nursing home patients with dementia. In order to systematically establish the extent to which various forms of regular contact with animals can benefit such patients, psychological and social changes in patients with and without contact to animals were examined at three intervals over a three-year period, using research instruments such as non-participant observation (MTU), questionnaires completed by nursing staff (FSAK; NPI) as well as interviews with the nursing staff to examine the human-animal-contacts between the residents and the animals in the daily routine. The study demonstrates that elderly dementia sufferers with regular contact to animals tend to show greater agility, independence, strength of social network and communication abilities compared to those without contact to animals. The study shows the psychosocial effects and the options of animal assisted activities with and care of elderly people suffering from dementia as an alternative to pharmacological treatment. 616.8914 CU 8590, YH 5416, QX 915 Mensch-Tier-Beziehung, Demenz, tiergestützte Intervention human animal bond, animal assisted therapy, dementia urn:nbn:de:bsz:14-qucosa-155686 454400233 Technische Universität dgg Technische Universität, Dresden Antje Beckmann 1976-10-08 aut Frank Nestmann Prof. Dr. rev Hans Gängler Prof. Dr. rev ger 2012-11-26 2013-06-18 born digital Antje Beckmann 017655529598 antje.beckmann@tu-dresden.de doctoral_thesis Nach Abgabe meiner Pflichtexemplare im Juni 2013 möchte ich meine Dissertation im Nachgang auch online veröffentlichen. Eine weitere Veröffentlichung liegt nicht vor.