Photo-Elicited Conversations about Therapy Dogs as a Tool for Engagement and Communication in Dementia Care: A Case Study

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Animal-assisted therapy is a meaningful and pleasant activity that can evoke feelings of joy and pleasure in people with dementia. In this study, the researchers wanted to find out whether photos of a person with dementia interacting with a therapy dog could be used to promote positive feelings and memories for the person in a similar way. Repeated video observations of photo-elicited conversations between a woman with dementia and a dog handler/assistant nurse were used to collect data. The results indicate that photo-elicited conversations can be used to talk about feelings and memories. With the help of contemporary digital technology, photobooks are relatively inexpensive and uncomplicated to make. They are easy to handle for persons with dementia and for family members or nursing staff. In addition, photobooks can be kept readily available for the person with dementia so they can look at them without assistance. To increase a sense of self in people with dementia, the photos should portray them in recent positive situations, for example, when interacting with an animal such as a therapy dog. ABSTRACT: Understanding the inner life of people with dementia can be challenging and there is a need for new and different approaches. Previous research shows that people with dementia can experience emotions such as harmony, closeness, and joy as well as sadness and concern when interacting with a therapy dog. Simultaneously, memories of past episodes are brought back to life when the person interacts with the dog. This raises questions about whether photos of interaction with a dog can evoke memories or support people with dementia in communicating emotions in a corresponding way. The aim of this study was to explore photo-elicited conversations as a tool for engagement and communication in dementia care. Repeated video observations of photo-elicited conversations between a woman with dementia and a dog handler/assistant nurse were used to collect data. The video recordings were analyzed with a phenomenological hermeneutical method. The role of photo-elicited conversations as a tool for engagement and communication in dementia care is that the conversations can help the person with dementia to feel a sense of being situated and recall feelings of liveliness and belongingness, and thus supporting the person’s sense of self. The results can be used to deepen nursing staff’s understanding of using photo-elicited conversations in dementia care.