Companions in Presence: Animal Assistants and Eldercare

Honoring the scholarship and teaching of Professor William M. Clements, this critically reflective essay expands the possibilities for a ministry of presence. The paper argues that animals can be helpful companions in care with elderly adults. The author draws from experiential stories, object relations theory, process theology, and empirical studies, to argue the beneficial aspects of animal assistants for human care receivers and caregivers. A creation-inclusive relational theology informs strategies for care.