The Surprising Benefits of Bringing Pets to Residential Care Homes
Studies have shown that animals can improve life in a care home by providing respite from loneliness and illness. They also offer emotional support and motivate residents to participate in physical activity, improving wellbeing and overall quality of life.
How do Pets Improve Life in Residential Care Homes?
Pets provide a deep sense of companionship and emotional support, forming bonds that often grow even more significant as we get older.
The thought of leaving behind a familiar environment and adjusting to a new setting can be particularly challenging. Having a beloved pet accompany you during this transition can significantly ease the process. Their presence provides a comforting sense of continuity and familiarity, helping to reduce the stress and fear associated with such a significant life change.
Let’s discuss the various ways animals improve life in residential homes, including emotional, physical, cognitive and social.
Better Wellbeing for Care Home Residents
Pets provide unbounded joy to anyone who interacts with them. So, bringing them into a place where people need extra care to stay emotionally and physically healthy is a no-brainer. They provide unconditional love, the best kind of love, which is known for effective healing and various health benefits.
Moving to a care home can cause anxiety for residents and their loved ones, so remedying these negative feelings is the best way to transition to a new way of living. Bringing a furry friend to their new home or participating in pet therapy will positively impact residents in a myriad of ways, such as boosting engagement, keeping a sharp mind and reducing depression.
The Benefits of Animals in Residential Homes
Here are some of the main ways pets improve quality of life in care homes:
Emotional
Pets provide essential companionship, helping to ease feelings of loneliness and isolation. Our four-legged friends offer familiarity and comfort, which is especially important for residents who feel disconnected from loved ones.
Interacting with pets also triggers mood-boosting endorphins that help with depression and anxiety. You can feel out of control after a move to a care home and caring for animals helps establish a routine, giving a sense of purpose and structure in their day.
Physical Health
Whether it’s walking a dog or playing with a cat, pets in care homes drive residents to engage in physical activities. This is great news for physical health as increased activity maintains mobility, improves cardiovascular health and can even boost energy levels in elderly people.
Petting or interacting with an animal has been shown to lower blood pressure. The calming presence of an animal promotes relaxation, helping residents manage stress and maintain a healthier lifestyle.
Social Interaction
Pets are natural social catalysts, building connections among fellow residents
and staff. They spark conversations, encouraging residents to engage with each other and share stories and tips, breaking down barriers and building a sense of community.
Additionally, communal pets provide opportunities for group interactions and strengthening bonds among residents, which is extremely important for good mental health and a more inclusive and friendly atmosphere.
Cognitive Benefits
Residents can stay mentally engaged by interacting with pets, such as feeding, grooming or simply playing with them. Pets stimulate the mind and keep residents active and alert. For residents with dementia or memory issues, pets can trigger memories and provide a comforting routine, helping to maintain cognitive function.
Petting and playing with pets also offer sensory stimulation, which benefits residents with limited mobility or declining cognitive abilities. Stroking an animal can be soothing and mentally stimulating, creating a sense of calm and focus.
Pet Therapy for Residential Homes
If you can’t bring your own pet to your new care home there are lots of effective alternatives you can use to make the most of the above benefits. Animal-assisted therapy is a powerful tool used in many care homes to enhance well-being.
Through structured interactions with well-behaved and specially trained therapy animals, elderly residents can experience emotional healing and physical relief. These therapy sessions can help reduce anxiety, alleviate symptoms of depression and even improve motor skills in a gentle, non-invasive way.
Therapy animals are also particularly effective for residents dealing with grief, trauma or chronic illness, providing comfort and companionship that goes beyond what traditional therapy can offer.
Are There Any Challenges?
While the benefits of having pets in care homes are undeniable, it’s important to know and manage any potential challenges. Firstly, not all residents may be comfortable around animals – some may have cat or dog allergies, fears or prefer not to interact with pets. Making sure animals don’t cause distress to these fellow residents should be a top priority.
Not only that, pets require care and attention, which can be a difficult task in a care home setting. Staff must balance the needs of the pets with the care of residents, so both are well looked after. We must also consider the pet’s well-being, making sure they are in an environment where they can thrive.
The Positive Impact of Pets in Care Homes
As you can see, pets bring immense value to life in residential care homes. They create a warmer, more engaging environment where residents can thrive, feel less isolated and maintain a higher quality of life.
While there are a few difficulties, the rewards of allowing pets into residential care home settings far outweigh the problems. With thoughtful planning, animals can make a care home not just a place to live, but a place of joy and connection.
Ready to explore...
