There are many different types of therapy, but animal therapy for seniors takes a unique approach in that it involves human interaction with animals. Animals are not only cute and cuddly, but they can also provide health benefits and companionship. For anyone that has been on the receiving end of love from a dog, cat or any other type of pet, you know how positive and powerful animal interaction is. 

Animals are a source of companionship and comfort that can benefit seniors in many ways. For seniors who are experiencing loneliness in Austin, the interaction with animals can have a great positive effect on their overall mental health. For seniors that are able to have pets, the type of animal that provides therapeutic relief does not have to be just a cat or dog that requires lots of work, but could also be rabbits, fish, hamsters, guinea pigs or any other smaller animal that takes up less space and requires less care. 

But to get the benefits of animal therapy, a senior does not always have to be a pet owner. There are a few different types of animal therapy:

Visitation Therapy

This is the most common type of animal therapy. For those that are unable to be a pet owner, this is a great form of non-committal therapy. This type of therapy involves animals visiting the senior in their home routinely. 

Ownership Therapy

This type of therapy is where a senior is the owner and caretaker of a pet. For those that are physically and financially able to be a pet owner, this is a great form of therapy that does require letting the animal get exercise, veterinary care when needed, feeding, and making sure the animal has a clean and safe environment to live in. 

Animal-Assisted Therapy

Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) is a more intense form of therapy that utilizes animals as a therapeutic tool to facilitate healing and rehabilitation of patients with acute or chronic diseases.  This type of therapy is usually facilitated by a healthcare professional 

For people of all ages interacting and caring for pets can be beneficial to your emotional, physical and mental health. But specifically for seniors, animal therapy can provide the following benefits:

Health Benefits

By having a companion or regular visitations with an animal, seniors can experience reduced stress levels and lower blood pressure. Some studies have even shown that due to the increase in mental stimulation, older adults with memory issues who interact with animals have unlocked memories from earlier parts of their life. 

Increase in Physical & Mental Activity 

Spending time with and taking care of animals gets you moving and outside more, which causes a release of endorphins and leads to a happier, healthier mind. Even if a senior is taking care of a smaller animal, like a hamster, they need to get out of bed routinely every morning to feed the pet and clean their cage, which can lead to more mobility and even an improved sense of purpose. And everyday interactions with animals can improve verbalization. Even non-verbal seniors can enjoy silent communication with animals.

Companionship

Unfortunately it is not uncommon for seniors to feel lonely when they age, which can lead to loss of wanting to do everyday activities and even depression. By having a connection to a pet or an animal that visits the senior frequently can go a long way toward making them feel valued, comforted, and joyous.

Professionals suggest seniors find companionship in whatever makes most sense to them. If owning a pet is an option, and a desire for an older adult, caregivers and loved ones can help make that happen. If owning an animal is not doable, caregivers and loved ones can make arrangements to get seniors to visit and make connections with animals in the community, whether at a shelter, farm, or through registered therapy animal organizations. 

Need Help? Reach out to Assisting Hands West Austin

Being a caregiver can get tough–and we here at Assisting Hands Home Care in West Austin are here to help. If you need support or assistance with caring for a loved one, or for yourself, give us a call at (512) 999-7379, or use the chat box on our website to get in contact with us immediately.