THE ROLE OF ANIMALS WITH ELDERLY PEOPLE IN INSTITUTIONAL CARE

Terapija, ki se izvaja s pomočjo živali, zlasti s šolanimi psi, vpliva na kakovost življenja starostnikov kot tudi posameznike, ki so vključeni ta program. To je oblika druženja posameznika in živali, katera ima številne prednosti in ugodno vpliva na zdravje ljudi. V ta namen usposobljene živali obiskujejo otroke, invalide, posameznike in starostnike v socialno varstvenih ustanovah vsaj enkrat na teden. Nekateri obiski so izključno družabniški, kar pomeni, da aktivnosti temeljijo predvsem na druženju uporabnika z živaljo in so preproste, saj se lahko ponavljajo pri različnih stanovalcih. Druga oblika so zahtevnejši obiski saj, imajo vedno smisel in namen doseči cilj, ki so si ga zastavili skupaj z uporabnikom. V teoretičnem delu diplomskega dela smo predstavili proces staranja in težave starostnika, ki se pojavljajo na psihičnem in fizičnem in tudi na socialnem področju. Opisali smo življenje starostnikov, ki bivajo v domskem varstvu in težave, ki se pojavijo ob selitvi starostnikov iz domačega okolja v domsko varstvo. Izpostavili smo terapijo s psi ter opisali način izvajanja terapije in njene učinke. Raziskava, ki je bila izvedena v domu starejših občanov Vrhnika je zajemala 10 starostnikov, ki so vključeni v program terapije s pomočjo psa in 10 starostnikov, ki niso vključeni v ponujen program. Rezultate smo dobili s pomočjo anketnega vprašalnika, ki je vseboval 13 vprašanj odprtega, polodprtega in zaprtega tipa. Zanimala nas je vloga medicinske sestre pri strokovni terapiji obravnave starostnika s pomočjo živali in izvajanju terapije. Želeli smo ugotoviti socialne potrebe starostnika v novem okolju, predvsem nas je zanimala želja starostnika po druženju ž živalmi v domskem varstvu ter pozitivni in negativni vplivi živali na starostnika. Rezultati raziskave so pokazali da druženje starejših z živalmi, ki so vključeni v program terapije s psi ugodno vpliva tako na psihičnem, fizičnem in tudi socialnem področju. Razveseljivo je da, s pomočjo živali lahko uspešno opravimo proces integracije stanovalcev doma in proces mobilizacije k smiselnim aktivnostim. Hkrati se zadovoljijo potrebe po naklonjenosti in nežnosti in tudi, da možno obliko terapije s psi sprejema zdravstveno negovalna služba ( Marinšek, Tušak, 2007, str. 97 ).Therapy, which is carried out using specially trained animals, especially dogs impacts the quality of life of older people as well as other individuals who are included this program. This is a form of socializing between older individuals and animals, which projects in many advantages and produces favorable effects on human health. For this purpose, trained animals visit the children, the disabled, elderly in social care facilities at least once a week. Some visits have solely socializinig purpose, which means that the activities are based primarily on user socializing with the animal and are very simple, as well visits can be repeated with different residents. Another form of visits are more advanced and have and purpose to achieve specific goal, that human therapist sets together with the user. In the theoretical part of the thesis, we presented the aging process and problems of the elderly, occurring on the mental, physical and the social level. We have described a life of elderly living in residential care and the problems that occur when moving older people from the home environment to institutional care. We highlighted the therapy with dogs and described the methods of exercising therapy and its effects. A survey which was conducted at the home of senior citizens in Vrhnika was involving 10 older people who are involved in a program of therapy with the help of a dog and 10 elderly people who are not included in the program offered. Results were obtained using a questionnaire, which contained 13 open, semi-open and closed questions. We were interested in the role of nurses in implementation of professional therapy where animals are used. We wanted to identify the social needs of the elderly in the new environment, so we were primarily interested in the desires of the elderly for uniting with the animals in residential care and its potential positive and negative impacts. The results showed that socializing with animals results in a favorable impact on both a psycho-physical and social level. It’s gratifying that the integration process of residents at retirement homes, as well as the processes required for the elderly to continue partaking in meaningful activities, can be successfully undertaken with the help of animals: This results in a higher life quality ( Marinšek, Tušak, 2007, str. 97 )