Objectives: While assistance dog use has received considerable recent attention, few studies have focused on benefits for older adults. The current review examined effects of assistance dog acquisition across practical, mental, physical, and social wellbeing domains for older adults. Further, it compared assistance dog types and identified potential barriers to acquisition.
Methods: A systematic review was completed. Criteria focused on older adults with relevant disabilities (visual/hearing impairments, and PTSD), who received support from an assistance dog (guide, hearing or other assistance dog). Identified studies (n = 2,951) were screened, 256 assessed for eligibility, and 28 included, with key information extracted and summarized.
Results: All dog types demonstrated benefits across all assessed domains. Disadvantages and acquisition barriers were identified. However, limited empirical evidence was available, and no studies focused exclusively on older adults, revealing the need for studies including this age-group.
Conclusions: While results indicated support for assistance dog acquisition, disadvantages and barriers require further attention. Methodologically improved research should focus on assistance dog acquisition for older persons.
Clinical implications: The study indicated assistance dog acquisition could produce positive clinical impacts, including on mental health and everyday functioning. Thus, acquisition could be considered as part a multi-faceted treatment or recommended to appropriate older adults.
Keywords: Assistance dogs; PTSD; guide dogs; hearing dogs; hearing impaired; older adults; vision impaired.