As a family caregiver, your loved one's quality of life matters to you. This may make it tempting to try all sorts of things to make life a little better for them. As such, you may have come across pet therapy in your research. For many, pet therapy is a great avenue – it can help with anxiety, physical limitations, mental disorders, high blood pressure, and even emotional trauma.
What is Pet Therapy?
So what is pet therapy? According to Healthline, “Pet therapy, also known as animal-assisted therapy (AAT), is the use of a specially trained animal that meets specific criteria as part of a treatment plan to improve physical, social, emotional, or cognitive functions.”
In this article, we’ll take a deep look into pet therapy: who should consider using it, the benefits of pet therapy, and the risks you should consider before you go all in.
Considerations of Pet Therapy
If you are a caregiver and think pet therapy may be a good option for the loved one in your care, there are a lot of things to keep in mind, as pet therapy is not for everyone. It really depends on the situation.
While this list is not exhaustive, those living with the following illnesses have been shown to benefit highly from pet therapy.
Cancer
Depression
Motor skill problems
Neurological disorders
Benefits of Pet Therapy
While it seems like anyone could benefit from simply having a furry companion, there are many other benefits that come with pet therapy. The benefits that have been seen with pet therapy include:
Reduced loneliness. Pets can give a senior citizen the feeling of companionship. As seniors, their children (if applicable) are around less, they may have lost their significant other, and it’s harder and harder for them to get out and see friends. Pets can give seniors a feeling of responsibility and companionship that they may otherwise be missing.
Improved mental health. Interacting with pets can improve a senior's mental health and verbalization skills. Day-to-day care can give seniors responsibilities to focus on, someone to communicate with, and a sense of being needed/relied upon by another.
Improved mood. It likely comes as no surprise, but a furry friend can help boost endorphins. Having a pet can make a person feel happy and loved. It’s a companionship that gives a senior someone to love and someone to love them back unconditionally.
Anxiety reduction. Well-trained animals who have a calm demeanor can help people with anxiety feel calmer. They can help to slow heart rate and ground anxious thoughts back into reality.
Improved physical health. Interacting with a pet can also help the overall physical health of a senior. This can come from a number of things that increase exertion, including walks, petting, and getting up to let the animal outside. Giving treats, feeding them, and petting them can also help them to retain fine motor skills.
Risks of Pet Therapy
Although there are many benefits to pet therapy, there are also risks (depending on the pet and the senior):
Fall risk. Pets can get in the way and can cause a tripping hazard. This is especially true with dogs who have not received enough training and/or who pull on the leash during walks.
Too much responsibility. Although pets are great companions, they do come with extra responsibility. Feeding, exercising, and cleaning up after a pet can be too much for some seniors to handle.
Inadequate conditions. Certain pets need a high level of exercise or training to maintain their own health, which may be too demanding for the senior in question. Make sure to choose a pet and/or breed that aligns well with their lifestyle.
You may be interested in having a furry friend around for your loved one, but are concerned about the risks shared above. Another option that works very well for some individuals is an interactive animatronic pet. These dogs and cats can be a joy for your care receiver, without the added stress and responsibility for you as the caregiver. There are many options for these types of “pets” but a few can be found here: Joy For All Companion Robotic Pets | Pet Therapy for Alzheimer's and Dementia | Animated Pets that Move, Purr and Bark | Ageless Innovation | Alzstore
Closing Thoughts: Pet Therapy for Seniors
For many senior citizens, pet therapy can be a life-changing quality of life improvement. Pets bring a sense of calm, responsibility, and companionship that is hard to compete with – but this choice shouldn’t be made lightly in fairness to both the pet and the loved one tasked with caring for it.
We here at the Caregiver Resource Center of Orange County are here to provide assistance and guidance to help you in any way we can. Check out our library of resources if you need more information about providing care to a loved one. Together, we can navigate the healthcare landscape and help you provide the best possible care for your loved one(s).
Further Reading: Caregiver Guilt – Balancing Family Expectations About Providing Care vs. Asking for Help
As our loved ones age or a disease progresses, caring for them can mean taking on increasing levels of stress and responsibility. The demands can easily grow beyond what you can reasonably handle, yet you may feel expected to continue.
When is it ok to say no? In this article, we’ll touch on these family dynamics and expectations as they relate to providing care and help you understand when it’s the right time to ask for help.
Click here to learn more about balancing the expectations you, your family, your culture, or society at large have for your role as a family caregiver.
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