Revista Sítio Novo · Nov 6, 2026

Clinical-functional vulnerability of residents with companion dogs in long-term care facilities for older adults

By da Silva MC, Luiz AB, Correia LO et al.

Population aging has increased the demand for long-term care and, consequently, the complexity of care provided in Long-Term Care Facilities (LTCFs). In this context, assessing clinical-functional vulnerability is essential for care planning. Although the 10-Minute Targeted Geriatric Assessment for Long-Term Care Facilities (TaGA-LTCF) has recently been adapted and validated for this context, no studies have yet explored its application among residents who live with companion dogs (CDs). This study aimed to characterize the clinical-functional vulnerability profile of LTCF residents responsible for CDs. This was an observational, cross-sectional, and descriptive study conducted with 30 residents aged over 60 years who were responsible for CDs in two LTCFs in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Sociodemographic information was collected, and the TaGA-LTCF was administered to characterize clinical-functional vulnerability. There was a predominance of female participants; the mean age was 72.5 years (SD = 6.9), ranging from 60 to 88 years, and the mean educational attainment was 16.4 years (SD = 3.6).It was observed that 93.3% of the participants had a very low-risk score. Among the domains assessed, previous hospital admissions (53.3%), depressive symptoms (46.7%), medicationuse (36.7%), and falls (33.3%) were the most prominent. The results indicate a lower clinical-functional vulnerability profile among residents responsible for CDs, considering the greater vulnerability profile frequently observed in LTCFs, reinforcing the relevance of multidimensional assessment and the need for comparative studies.

doi.org/10.47236/2594-7036.2026.v10.2391Open accessPopulations