Which Type of Animal Therapy is best for your Senior Family Member?

Which Type of Animal Therapy is best for your Senior Family Member?

Seniors who either live alone and/or are receiving in-home elder care can benefit tremendously from owning a pet. Not only does a pet keep them entertained the whole day, it also gives many seniors a reason to wake up in the morning. Pets give elders an added purpose, which is very important, especially in our busy society where they are often ignored and neglected. Maintaining self-esteem, therefore, should be a vital part of senior care, because it contributes so much to their wellness and mental health. Caring for a pet can give them a sense of duty and purpose. This makes them feel that they no longer are just living for themselves and enhances their self-esteem.

In fact, studies show that seniors who live independently and own pets are likely to be more physically healthy and have better mental health than those who don’t. Pet-loving seniors have a more active lifestyle and are able to deal better with stress.

There are various kinds of animal therapy depending on the needs of the elderly individual. Ownership therapy, where a senior living independently or receiving in-home care owns a pet in their house, is the best type. However, it is an option only for elderly people who are fit enough to take care of a pet. Here are the different types of animal therapy to choose from. Each of these types offers different benefits for various seniors’ conditions.

1. Visitation therapy is the most common type of animal therapy. This involves animals, commonly cats or dogs, coming to nursing homes, hospitals, or senior centers to visit and play with residents and patients. The advantage to this type of therapy is that residents receive the loving attention of the animal without having to care for the animals themselves, which is valuable in health-care facilities where pets are not allowed to stay overnight.
2. Ownership therapy is the second next best type of therapy as it brings a lot of mental and emotional benefits to a senior. However, seniors receiving in-home elder care who wish to undergo ownership therapy should be careful in choosing a new companion, considering in detail the animal’s needs and requirements before bringing it home.
3. Animal assisted therapy is a very intensive type of therapy often prescribed to seniors who need extreme rehabilitation. As part of their intensive therapy treatment, they are put together with amazingly sensitive animals such as dolphins and horses. Not only will their interactions with animals build their confidence, these will also help refine their physical skills.

If you’re providing senior care and you think your patient will be benefit from any of these animal therapies, you should first set up an appointment with a therapist who is familiar with these different approaches. A good therapist can help you determine which of these is the most appropriate and beneficial to your aging family member.