A long-term study of elderly people in nursing homes with visiting and resident dogs

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 (chi(2) = 21.18, d.f. = 10, P = 0.02; chi(2) = 35.42, d.f. = 10, P = 0.0001, respectively). The resident dog group showed significant decreases in depression (chi(2) = 31.19, d.f. = 10, P = 0.0005) as did the control group (chi(2) = 29.8, d.f. = 10, P = 0.0009; chi(2) = 23.4, d.f. = 10, P = 0.009). Significant increases in vigour were found in all three nursing homes (visiting dog, chi(2) = 43.91, d.f. = 10, P = 0.0005; resident dog, chi(2) = 42.92, d.f. = 10, P = 0.0005; control, chi(2) = 38.52, d.f. = 10, P = 0.0005). Fatigue decreased significantly in the visiting and resident dog groups (chi(2) = 21.58, d.f. = 10, P = 0.02; chi(2) = 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.