By ​Erica Balch, November 9, 2017 ​
New research shows that for older war veterans, the love and support they receive from therapy dogs can significantly ease social isolation and help bring back fond memories.
That’s according to a joint study from McMaster and the Universities of Saskatchewan and Regina which found that therapy dogs have a positive influence on the health and wellbeing of older veterans and could potentially help meet the health needs of the growing population of younger veterans.
The study, which was conducted in partnership with the St. John’s Ambulance Therapy Dog Program, looked at how regular visits from therapy dogs improved the quality of life for older adults living in a Veterans Affairs Canada residence in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
“We worked with older adults with a history of military service who could benefit from increased social interaction to understand the contribution of therapy animals to veterans living in a long-term care setting,” says James Gillett, an associate professor in McMaster’s Department of Health Aging and Society and associate dean, Research and Graduate Studies who was a co-investigator on the project that included researchers from the Universities of Saskatchewan and Regina and numerous community partnerships.
