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This article provides a secondary analysis of data collected from a recreation therapy intervention trial for older adults with dementia and neuropsychiatric symptoms. In a subsample of 54 individuals who received wheelchair (WC) biking on some days and other recreation therapy interventions on other days, a comparison of engagement levels, time engaged, and encouragement needed was completed. The analysis showed that WC biking provided significantly more time on task and significantly higher levels of engagement, and less encouragement was needed. Collecting recreation therapy session engagement data was found to be a simple and useful method of comparing effectiveness of recreation therapy interventions.

This study identified perceived benefits of animal-assisted therapy (AAT) on anxiety, pain, communication, and cognition among patients waiting for treatment in a large urban cancer center. A convenience sample of 75 patients and five family members (n = 80) waiting for treatment completed a survey about AAT. After giving informed consent, participants were asked to complete questions related to attitudes about offering a complementary therapy dog program in the hospital. Findings indicated that most respondents were very accepting of AAT in the cancer center, with 78 percent indicating that they would like to take part in this complementary therapy. The perceived benefits of AAT included that it would provide a method for positive communication (93 percent), cognitive stimulation (92.3 percent), it would help to pass time more quickly (88.8 percent), it would help people to feel more comfortable at the cancer center (84.8 percent), and it would reduce participants’ pain (71.3 percent) and anxiety (68.4 percent). The association between gender and anxiety produced a statistically meaningful result in this study about predicting subjects’ participation in the program. Ultimately, offering recreational therapy facilitated AAT in cancer center waiting areas may provide benefits for patients and provide a competitive edge to hospitals.

The purpose of this article is to share the findings from the Alternative and Complementary Therapies for Healthy Aging panel that recently disseminated their research at the annual Gerontological Society of American Conference, November 18-22, 2009, in Atlanta, GA. The interdisciplinary panel examined the influence of alternative and complementary therapies for healthy aging. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine1 (NCCAM) reports that 38 percent of adults in the United States utilize complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). CAMs offer an alternative or adjunct therapy that has lower risk of adverse side effects and offer a new perspective: healing the patient rather than simply treating them. Quality of life must be considered; more medications and medical interventions do not always equally increase the quality of life. The interventions presented promote a holistic approach (mind, body, and spirit) to wellness.