Pet therapy had its origins in the USA in the early 1960s and is based on the hypothesis that the relationship between different species may have a therapeutic effect.Generally, the emerging opinion is rather supportive of the use of animals for companionship and for the promotion of physical, social, and emotional health of the elderly, but only a few studies have been conducted in this regard.In Italy, more than 8 million of the 57 million inhabitants are over 65 years old and about 2 million are over 80 years old - and these numbers are likely to increase as life expectancy continues to rise. Some studies conducted on cognitively intact elderly residing in an institutional setting have reported positive outcomes with pet therapy, leading to reduced feelings of solitude and isolation and improvements in social relationships (Savishinsky, 1992; Fick, 1993; Richeson, 2003).
展开▼
