elderly people and companion animals - · pdf fileelderly people and companion animals...

17
Elderly people and companion animals placement For the love of animals and for the love of people!

Upload: truongnguyet

Post on 06-Mar-2018

219 views

Category:

Documents


3 download

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: Elderly people and companion animals -   · PDF fileElderly people and companion animals placement For the love of animals and for the love of people!

Elderly people and

companion animals

placement

For the love of animals and for the love of people!

Page 2: Elderly people and companion animals -   · PDF fileElderly people and companion animals placement For the love of animals and for the love of people!

How I came to find myself

here! Flinders University Master of Social Work student

First placement (500 hours July-Dec)

Interest in community development

Animal lover

Page 3: Elderly people and companion animals -   · PDF fileElderly people and companion animals placement For the love of animals and for the love of people!

Tipperary’s story

Page 4: Elderly people and companion animals -   · PDF fileElderly people and companion animals placement For the love of animals and for the love of people!

History of placement Animals in Society Group

Appreciating human animal companion bond and

research and practice gaps

Desire to enable community engagement and service

delivery to encompass companion animals

Page 5: Elderly people and companion animals -   · PDF fileElderly people and companion animals placement For the love of animals and for the love of people!

Conception to birth Joint placement with

Anglicare SA Home Care South & West, Active Living

RSPCA South Australia

Opportunities for inter-agency collaboration and mutual support

Demonstrates interconnectedness of human issues and animal issues

Page 6: Elderly people and companion animals -   · PDF fileElderly people and companion animals placement For the love of animals and for the love of people!

Placement detailsRaising profile and issues of the elderly residing in their

own home with companion animals through:

Research project

Talking and connecting with:

Elderly people

Service providers & community

Encompassing a literature review

Culminating in production of a community resource

Page 7: Elderly people and companion animals -   · PDF fileElderly people and companion animals placement For the love of animals and for the love of people!

Early observationsPromising!

Literature:

“My Dog Always Eats First: The Homeless and their Animals”(2013,

Irvine, L)

Medical, veterinary, gerontology, psychology, nursing, social

work & sociology sources on this topic

Community:

Few surprised by the importance of companion animals to

elderly people

Two newly acquired dogs to elderly couple story

Companion animals more than a risk assessment

Page 8: Elderly people and companion animals -   · PDF fileElderly people and companion animals placement For the love of animals and for the love of people!

Early obs cont.

Not everyone is convinced! But Leunig reassures!

Page 9: Elderly people and companion animals -   · PDF fileElderly people and companion animals placement For the love of animals and for the love of people!

Early obs cont.

Potential reluctance to plan for separations from

companion animals including relinquishment or death

(Telecross & other service anecdotes)

Is this the individual’s problem?

Exciting City of Yarra “Companion Animal Support

Program for Older People”

Page 10: Elderly people and companion animals -   · PDF fileElderly people and companion animals placement For the love of animals and for the love of people!

Yarra City Companion animal

service cont.

Free to residents who are elderly or have

a disability

Matches volunteers

Evaluation case studies insightful

Foster care for animals – service gap

Page 11: Elderly people and companion animals -   · PDF fileElderly people and companion animals placement For the love of animals and for the love of people!

An animal’s eyes have the power to

speak a great language.

Martin Buber (1878-

1965)

Page 12: Elderly people and companion animals -   · PDF fileElderly people and companion animals placement For the love of animals and for the love of people!

Tribute to a dog

Page 13: Elderly people and companion animals -   · PDF fileElderly people and companion animals placement For the love of animals and for the love of people!

What’s not to love in a

companion animal…Cat Steven’s ‘I love my dog’ says it all….

I love my dog as much as I love you But you may fade, my dog will always come through.

All he asks from me is the food to give him strength All he ever needs is love and that he knows he'll get

So, I love my dog as much as I love you But you may fade, my dog will always come through.

All the pay I need comes shining through his eyes I don't need no cold water to make me realize that

And may we extend these sentiments of love and companionship to all our sentient non-human friends.

Page 14: Elderly people and companion animals -   · PDF fileElderly people and companion animals placement For the love of animals and for the love of people!

Summing up Companion animals hold significant place in the lives of

people, especially the elderly (family, attachment theory, grief & loss issues - disenfranchised)

Full recognition of this in aged care can be ‘hit and miss’ and focused on risk

Supporting the human and companion animal bond has multiple benefits and ripple effects – enabler of social capital

There is ample evidence, including research and existing programs, modeling why and how we should support the human (elderly) companion animal bond that fits with the aged care agenda and the language of choice and independence.

Page 15: Elderly people and companion animals -   · PDF fileElderly people and companion animals placement For the love of animals and for the love of people!

The teamPlacement agencies:

Dr Di Evans - Animal Welfare Advocate, RSPCA South

Australia

Marie Noble - Manager Home Care South & West,

Anglicare SA

Flinders University:

External Field Supervisor - Prof Fiona Verity

Field Coordinator - Ilektra Zabanias

Placement Student - Mary-Rose Alfonsi

Page 16: Elderly people and companion animals -   · PDF fileElderly people and companion animals placement For the love of animals and for the love of people!

The End! Questions or comments

Page 17: Elderly people and companion animals -   · PDF fileElderly people and companion animals placement For the love of animals and for the love of people!

Selected referencesEbenstein H & Wortham J (2001) ‘The Value of Pets in Geriatric Practice: A Program Example’ Journal of Gerontological Social Work, Vol. 35(2) The Haworth Press, Inc.

Morley C & Fook J (2005) ‘The importance of pet loss and some implications for services’, Mortality: Promoting the interdisciplinary study of death and dying, 10:2, 127-143

Risley-Curtiss C (2010) ‘Social Work Practitioners and the Human-Companion Animal Bond: A National Study’ Social Work Vol 55(1) National Association of Social Workers

Sable P (2013) ‘The Pet Connection: An Attachement Perspective’ Clin Soc Work J 41:93-99, Springer

Slatter J, Lloyd C & King R (2012) ‘Homelessness and companion animals: more than just a pet?’ British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 75(8), 377-383

Walsh F (2009) ‘Human-Animal Bond I: The Relational Significance of Companion Animals’, Family Process, Vol 48, No.4, FPI Inc.

http://www.yarracity.vic.gov.au/Services/Older-persons-services/home-and-support-services/Companion-Animal-Support-Program/