University of North Carolina at Greensboro
School of Health and Human Performance

Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Animal Assisted Therapy an important option

Over the last decade a steady increase in the number of hospitals have reported they offer complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). As more Americans demand treatments outside of traditional health services, hospitals will continue to respond to that demand. According to the American Hospital Association's Annual Survey of Hospitals, the number of hospitals offering CAM services has more than doubled, from 7.9 percent in 1998 to 19.8 percent in 2006.

In a recent survey by the Health Forum a Complementary and Alternative Medicine Survey of Hospitals was conducted to gather in-depth information about the CAM programs and services being offered in U.S. hospitals. On an inpatient basis, the top modalities offered are Animal Assisted Therapy (46 percent), massage therapy (40 percent) and music/art therapy (30 percent). The demand for AAT in hospitals, nursing homes, and other locations continues to exceed the number of trained teams available.

UNCG Therapeutic Recreation Therapy and Gerontology Professor Lin Buettner, offers a weekend long Delta Society Pet Partners registration course for students, staff, and community members at the north campus at least once per semester. The course trains future healthcare professionals and dedicated community members on the techniques needed to work with a pet in specialized medical settings. “It is the bond between the handler and the animal that makes the therapy work” says Buettner. She has trained and tested over 100 teams (handler and companion pets of all types) since arriving in NC in 2008. UNCG is developing 3-credit Animal Assisted Therapy course, and a certificate in AAT to help meet the demand in the region.

Dr. Buettner also has an ongoing program of research using animal assisted therapy in rural nursing home to increase social and movement opportunities for difficult to engage residents, a program in the local behavioral health center for adolescents, and a program that uses animal assisted therapy to prevent delirium in hospitalized older adults. “My passion is finding non-pharmacological approaches to help the most vulnerable people stay active and to improve their quality of life. People who love animals instantly engage, focus, practice rehabilitation skills, improve mood when an animal–handler team walk in”. These interdisciplinary handler-animal teams are extensively trained, tested, insured, vet checked and registered with the Delta Society.

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