Abstract
The aging process in the body is accompanied by many changes at the structural level (organ), in function (reduced performance, adaptability, recognition abilities and coordination of functioning of various body systems) and at the social level (decrease in social interactions, moving to social welfare facilities, hospitalization). These are the factors that have a significantly negative impact on the quality of life of seniors.
Interaction with animals and activities with them (here, specifically a dog) can usefully contribute to the activation of seniors and to the improvement of their quality of life, whether it is an animal that occurs in the specialized facility or a pet. Our objective is to summarize results of studies assessing the impact of the ownership of the animal (dog) and using it in various activities and therapy on the amount of regular activity, mental condition and various aspects of aging.
We will also present our experience of animal-assisted therapy (AAT) in the Central Military Hospital.