Technology-based interventions Animal-assisted interventions There is plenty of debate and there are many Animal-assisted therapy is another method gaps in the research on digital technology, that is currently being used to increase social communication and loneliness, especially in interactions and to combat loneliness. It is older age. For many digital services – including suggested that AAT can be viewed as a vehicle Facebook, Skype, email and Twitter – a study can for social interactions, with the pet as an ice- be found that shows them be successfully used. breaker in community-based social interactions Masi et al. (2010) found that loneliness reduction (Banks and Bank 2005). This therapy is carried interventions have “yet to harness the power out or facilitated by an AAT specialist (often a of technology.” Their article recognises that registered nurse, occupational therapist, social simply making the internet available within elderly worker, psychologist, etc.) who has been trained communities – even with careful and lengthy to integrate the animal into therapy as a modality induction – does not promise a substantial impact (Delta Society 2005). by itself. It considers research that shows how Animal-assisted activities, although not directed the internet can instead be directed towards toward specific therapeutic goals, “provide particular social interactional opportunities. opportunities for motivational, educational, Two systematic reviews included studies recreational, and/or therapeutic benefits to assessing computer training and internet use enhance quality of life” (Delta Society 2005). Such (delivered either individually or in groups) as a activities can include bringing cats or dogs to means to reduce loneliness among older people. visit patients at a hospital or nursing home; fish The reviews covered community-dwelling people tanks located in health care providers’ offices for and people living in residential or nursing homes. patients to watch while waiting; and even a dog- The computer training ranged from two weeks obedience group that gives a demonstration for a to three months and aimed to help older people correctional facility. Specialists helping to facilitate communicate with family and friends, as well as these activities may include but are not limited obtain news and other useful information. There to assistants of licensed professions (nursing, was some limited evidence of benefit but the occupational and physical therapy, as well as poor quality of included studies makes it difficult recreational therapy), students of professionals, to generalise. and animal-shelter workers (Morrison 2007: 53-54). Case study: SharedWalk Animal-assisted interventions have been found to be effective among adolescents as well as older SharedWalk is a service funded by the Nominet people, and found to be more effective in one- Trust and implemented by the Learning to-one settings than group settings. In addition, Science Research Institute at the University prompted or guided human-animal interactions of Nottingham. It allows someone with a appear to be more effective in improving social smartphone to capture and send (narrated) functioning than spontaneous interactions. Less videos to a partner with access to this website. intensive and longer animal-assisted interventions tended to show higher effects on daily living It is hoped that this will be particularly valuable skills, suggesting that short but highly intensive for individuals who are relatively housebound programmes in elderly and psychiatric patients and who wish to keep in contact with the may lead to an exhaustion of the intervention experiences of friends and loved ones. There is effect (Virués-Ortega et al. 2012: 216). no evidence on the effectiveness of SharedWalk, Older adults who reported owning a pet are as yet, but it is an example of the kind of 36% less likely to report loneliness than older innovations happening in this area. adults not reporting pet ownership. Further, “an Isolation and loneliness 27