Effect of pet therapy on sleep and life quality of elderly individuals

Aim The study aimed to determine the sleep and life quality of elderly individuals living in a nursing home using pet therapy, a complementary and supportive therapy. Methods The study was conducted with elderly individuals in a nursing home in Tokat province in Turkey. The study sample consisted of 59 elderly individuals, with 30 in the intervention group and 29 in the control group, who met the inclusion criteria. Pet therapy was applied to elderly individuals twice a week for 6 weeks for a total of 12 sessions as a randomized controlled trial to determine the effect of pet therapy on sleep and life quality. While pet therapy was applied to the individuals in the intervention group, the control group was no pet theraphy. Results It was determined that the sleep and life quality of the individuals in the intervention group increased statistically and significantly. There was no statistically significant difference in the change in sleep and life quality of individuals in the control group. A statistically significant difference was determined between the intervention and control groups regarding sleep and life quality. Conclusion Pet therapy was determined to significantly improve the sleep and life quality of elderly individuals living in a nursing home. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2025; ••: ••–•• .