Animals in Ohio long-term care facilities

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Abstract

There is strong evidence that animals provide many health benefits to residents living in a long-term care facility (Nursing Home). Although animals may provide benefits to this population, there are also health risks associated with animal interactions. This brochure provides long-term care facility administrators, activity coordinators and family members with a brief overview of best practices that should be implemented during animal activities. Additionally, Ohio law requires long-term care facilities to create and implement an animal protocol. The accompanying suggested animal protocol provides long-term care facilities with a model protocol that abides by Ohio law and incorporates best practices and protocols to reduce the health risks associated with animals.

Description

A brochure that provides risks and benefits associated with animal activities within a long-term care facility along with best practices that could combat those risks. Additionally, an accompanying model protocol was designed to target key topics related to animals in a long-term care facility likely to affect resident and animal health. Using this protocol as a guide, users are encouraged to adapt it to their facility while continuing to meet the requirements enforced by Ohio law. The supporting document is an extension of the information and guidelines that will help direct the development of an individualized animal protocol for the facility.

Keywords

long-term care facilities, animals in long-term care facilities, nursing homes, animals in nursing homes, benefits of animals, risks of animals, zoonoses, human animal bond, prevent zoonotic diseases, animal best practices

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