Implications and Future Research

As  detailed  in  the  previous  Discussion  chapter,  this  study’s  findings  substantiate  that  AAT   serves  a  therapeutic  benefit,  promoting  positive  psychological,  physiological,  and  

psychosocial  health  outcomes  for  an  elder  population.  This  has  implications  for  long-­‐term   residential  settings.  Firstly,  findings  support  Knox’s  philosophy  of  care  to  provide  easily   accessible  contact  with  animals  as  a  way  of  enriching  elder  residents’  quality  of  life.     Findings  also  provide  possible  incentives  for  other  New  Zealand  residential  settings  to   employ  a  similar  AAT  initiative,  with  the  additional  understanding  that  having  a   permanently  placed  and  certified  canine  is  particularly  advantageous.    

Recommended  future  pathways  for  AAT  research  in  New  Zealand  are  specific  focuses  on   the  impact  of  an  AAT  programme  from  commencement,  leading  to  the  possibility  of   comparing  before  and  after  effects  of  AAT.  Also,  a  focus  on  specific  AAT  interventions   towards  achieving  goal  directed  objectives,  such  as  improvements  in  mobility,  speech  and   language,  or  social  engagement,  would  contribute  further  understanding  to  AAT  

therapeutic  capabilities.        

The  identification  of  particular  canine  characteristics  influencing  AAT  experiences  

initiated  an  additional  significant  implication  to  this  study.    The  findings  suggest  that  AAT   is  not  simply  about  interacting  with  a  canine,  because  it  is  cute  or  playful,  but  many   complexities  associated  with  biological,  emotional,  and  social  responses  systematically   influence  the  connection  participants  feel  with  Olive.  These  findings  fill  a  gap  in  AAT   literature  as  during  this  process,  no  research  was  found  that  specifically  focused  on  the   influence  of  specific  canine  characteristics  on  AAT  therapeutic  abilities,  from  the  

perspective  of  the  participants.      Future  research  may  focus  on  the  effect  different  canine   breeds  may  have  on  AAT  experiences,  in  relation  to  their  divergent  visual  characteristics,  

sizes,  and  behaviours.  It’s  also  recommended  that  further  research  compare  canine  AAA   and  canine  AAT,  to  further  clarify  whether  a  certified  canine  is  more  advantageous  for  a   long-­‐term  residential  setting.      

An  increased  and  broader  participant  sample  size  is  recommended,  such  as  10  

participants  instead  of  five.  The  inclusion  of  persons  who  have  not  participated  in  AAT,   have  a  dislike  of  canines,  or  who  may  disapprove  of  AAT  within  a  residential  setting,   would  also  be  beneficial  as  this  would  increase  the  potential  sample  size  and  allow  for  a   more  in  depth  and  balanced  analysis  regarding  canine  AAT  experiences.  Interviewing   family  members  may  also  be  appropriate  to  supplement  the  capturing  of  residents’   experiences  and  offer  an  alternative  perspective  to  the  effects  of  canine  AAT  on  elder   residents’  wellbeing.  Additionally,  interviewing  staff  and  volunteers  regarding  their   experiences  of  AAT  within  the  residential  setting  is  recommended  as  this  will  allow  for  the   triangulation  of  data  and  opportunity  to  gain  a  greater  overall  picture  of  how  canine  AAT   affects  the  whole  residential  setting  environment.    

Following  interpretation  of  participants’  experiences,  AAT  appears  to  have  served  a   therapeutic  purpose,  however  the  study  identified  that  participants  did  not  necessarily   consider  AAT  experiences  as  being  therapeutic.  This  has  significant  implications  on  the   inherent  ambiguities  of  language  use  (Atieno,  2009)  and  the  importance  of  terminology   use  with  an  elder  population.  Therapy  is  still  a  stigmatised  term  and  for  the  study’s   particular  cohort  of  participants,  who  grew  up  in  a  time  in  society  when  therapy  was   perhaps  more  associated  with  persons  who  were  severely  unwell,  the  term  ‘therapy’  may   not  be  relatable.    This  implication  also  highlights  the  differing  constructions  of  meaning   making  and  the  importance  of  understanding  and  interpreting  these  differences.    For   example,  without  the  opportunity  to  explore  participants’  meaning  of  therapy,  their  lack  of  

therapeutic  terminology  use  may  have  been  interpreted  as  AAT  having  no  therapeutic   effect.  Instead  analysis  inferred  that  participants  constructed  the  meaning  of  “therapeutic”   as  being  a  combination  of  emotional  and  social  responses  that  lead  to  beneficial  health   related  outcomes.    Recommendations  for  future  AAT  with  an  elder  population  would  be  to   take  time  considering  the  terminology  used  for  participant  recruitment  and  data  collection   tools,  while  allowing  participants  the  opportunity  to  articulate  their  own  understandings.     Further  research  may  also  directly  query  what  an  elder  population’s  definition  of  therapy   means,  relating  the  meaning  back  to  their  interpretation  of  AAT.    

Practicalities  need  to  be  taken  into  consideration  when  working  with  an  elder  population   residing  within  a  long-­‐term  residential  setting.  A  flexible  research  design  is  recommended   to  allow  for  challenges  associated  with  participant  recruitment  and  data  collection.  

Patience  is  required  due  to  the  likelihood  of  appointments  being  interrupted  by  staff,   visitors,  or  having  been  forgotten  (Kaiser  et  al.,  2002).  Full  immersion  into  the  research   setting  is  recommended  to  build  relationships  with  potential  participants  and  interest  in   the  study,  reduce  the  effect  of  researcher  presence  during  data  collection,  and  gain  insight   into  the  culture  of  the  environment.  An  additional  recommendation  is  to  involve  a  

communicative  and  supportive  “insider”  from  the  research  setting.  Kristen  was  the   “insider”  for  this  study  and  played  a  pivotal  role  in  the  formation  and  progression  of  the   research.  As  volunteer  coordinator  and  Olive’s  handler,  her  relationship  with  residents   aided  the  study’s  participant  recruitment  and  data  collection  phase.  Kristen  also  acted  as   an  advocate  for  the  research.  Knox  is  a  busy  place  with  many  people  entering  and  exiting,   and  due  to  its  uniqueness  as  an  Eden  Alternative  Home,  it  is  the  setting  for  numerous   research  studies.  As  a  staff  member  who  was  a  familiar  acquaintance  to  residents,  Kristen   also  facilitated  introductions,  which  eased  the  effect  of  a  stranger  entering  into  the   residents’  home  and  private  rooms.