How Pet Therapy at LakeHouse Kalamazoo Lifts Spirits and Lowers Stress
Pet therapy can offer companionship, ease stress, and improve your health. Connect with therapy pets through your senior living community.
According to UCI Health, a study of nearly 8,000 older adults who lived alone found that having a pet is associated with a slower rate of cognitive decline. This includes verbal cognition, fluency, and memory. Cat owners also experienced a greater reduction in cardiovascular disease risk factors.
If owning a pet is too daunting, consider pet therapy. You can enjoy calming activities, senior enrichment, and warm cuddles from a furry companion.
What is pet therapy, and what are the benefits of companion visits in Kalamazoo, MI? Read on to find out!
What Is Pet Therapy?
Pet therapy (or animal therapy) uses animals to help people cope with or recover from health conditions.Pet therapy may involve a variety of animals. It's considered an alternative or complementary therapy (meaning it shouldn't replace other treatments).
During pet therapy sessions, animals may:
- Provide comfort
- Alert others if you're in danger
- Perform actions
- Help if you have a health condition
The goal of pet therapy is to ease symptoms of a mental or physical health condition. Different forms of pet therapy can vary depending on:
- The type of animal
- The type of therapy the animal provides
- Your mental and physical health condition
How pet therapy works can vary based on your concerns and goals. For example, an animal may:
- Provide comfort
- Reduce pain levels
- Improve your motor skills or encourage movement
- Increase your motivation for specific activities (interacting with other seniors, exercising, etc.)
- Encourage social and behavioral skills
Requirements
The American Veterinary Medical Association's requirements for pet therapy include:
- A physical exam of the animal (confirming they're immunized and free of disease)
- Designation of a responsible person accountable for the animal's welfare, behavior, and health
- Dogs and cats must be at least six months old and complete proper training
- Completing an evaluation of the animal's age, species, breed, and temperament
Pet handlers must have a formal education. They must have credentials in healthcare or human services. Confirm that they hold specialized training in AAT theory and practice.
Before engaging in a pet therapy program, consider your goals. Work with a professional to determine how the animal will be incorporated into your treatment plan.
What Are the Benefits of Pet Therapy?
Animal therapy is based on the human-animal bond. It builds on the mutually beneficial relationship between animals and people. This bond may help:
- Reduce boredom
- Produce a calming effect
- Provide companionship (decreasing loneliness)
- Improve your mood and general well-being
- Increase movement and activity
- Boost social interactions
Pet therapy may benefit your mental and physical health. Here are a few ways companion visits offer senior enrichment.
Emotional Care
Pet therapy may help improve markers of stress by:
- Providing stimulation, focus, and motivation
- Reducing feelings of worry or fear
- Reducing perceptions of pain
- Decreasing anxiety and stress
- Increasing feelings of social support
Reducing stress hormones (like cortisol) can improve your overall well-being. Otherwise, high cortisol levels can cause:
- Headaches
- Rapid breathing
- Pounding heart
- Increased risk of heart attack
- Stomachaches
- High blood pressure
- Heartburn
- Increased risk of depression
- Insomnia
- High blood sugar
- A weakened immune system
- Tense muscles
Pet therapy may help seniors with mental health conditions, such as:
- Autism spectrum disorder
- Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder
- Dementia
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Schizophrenia
According to a study published in Psychogeriatrics, dog-assisted therapy was effective in reducing symptoms of depression in elderly seniors. Dogs can encourage social interaction and positive emotional responses.
Physical Health
Animal therapy may help with markers of physical health conditions,including:
- Recovering after a major stroke
- Recovering after a condition that caused the loss of motor skills
- Pain from cancer treatment
- Postoperative recovery
- Epilepsy
- Heart failure
Pet therapy may encourage seniors to continue therapy or engage in other calming activities. For example, spending time with a dog may encourage you to walk more. Walking and other forms of exercise can boost your mood and potentially reduce signs of pain.
According to the American Heart Association, dog ownership may:
- Reduce your risk of dying from a heart attack or stroke by 31%
- Extend your longevity compared to non-dog owners
- Provide social support and companionship
- Encourage behavior changes that lead to weight loss
- Help prevent chronic disease
- Encourage you to accomplish fitness goals
- Lower your risk of diabetes by one-third compared to non-dog owners
Pet therapy may help reduce blood pressure, improving your overall cardiovascular health. An animal's calming effect may increase the release of endorphins, which may help reduce stress and pain.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Considered a Therapy Pet?
Therapy animals are trained to provide support and comfort. They're used in a variety of settings, including:
- Senior living communities
- Nursing homes
- Hospitals
- Schools
Therapy animals aren't trained to perform tasks for individuals. They're also not protected by the ADA or other federal programs. Instead, they work with a handler to provide comfort to people in group settings.
In some therapy pet programs, you can choose between a variety of animals. Some animals assist people with specific physical or mental health conditions.
What Are the Cons of Pet Therapy?
There's not much research into animal-assisted therapy. Most people rely on anecdotal evidence when discussing the benefits. Potential drawbacks of pet therapy include the cost and resources it requires.
Look for pet therapy opportunities through your local senior living community. You won't have to worry about the cost or resources required. Instead, you can reap the benefits of companion visits in a safe environment.
What Are the Different Types of Therapy Animals for Seniors?
Common types of animal-assisted therapy include:
- Pet therapy (cats, dogs, etc.)
- Canine therapy
- Wolfdog or wolf-assisted therapy
- Dolphin-assisted psychotherapy
- Equine (horse-assisted therapy)
Consult professionals at your senior living community to determine what types of therapy animals they have available.
Enjoy Therapy Animals for Seniors
Pet therapy can offer companionship, improving your mental, physical, and emotional well-being. Consider experiencing these benefits firsthand through your local senior living community.
At LakeHouse Kalamazoo, we offer personalized, attentive care in a warm yet stimulating environment. Enjoy our exclusive lifestyle programs, including community outings to landmarks and museums, wellness classes, and engaging social activities like mahjong and educational classes. Contact us now to schedule your tour.