Can Your Pet Become a Therapy Animal for Seniors?

By Tamara L. Waters

There are two things that can almost always bring a smile to any face: Children and animals. As my elderly grandmother's health and mind deteriorated in the years prior to her death, a child or an animal could still make her smile. This fact is not lost upon senior centers that use therapy animals to bring joy to their patients.

According to The Delta Society – a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting therapy through pet ownership and interaction – the health benefits pets have on seniors are undeniable. The Delta Society website cites studies asserting that seniors with pets have fewer doctor visits and have lower blood pressure and cholesterol. Those of us who’ve had the privilege of being pet owners know firsthand that a pet offers unconditional love and companionship. My own pets seem to know when I need some furry affection, and their presence is calming.

What does it take to provide pet therapy to seniors with your favorite pooch or kitty? If you are interested in using your pet in a senior therapy setting, the first step would be to find out what your local senior living facilities require. For the safety of senior residents and patients, most senior facilities may require any visiting pet to be certified for animal therapy. State and local regulations will also need to be explored. Other centers may only require proof of immunizations or a form from your veterinarian stating that your pet is recommended for therapy. You should also check with your insurance agent regarding liability if something were to happen. You will need to make sure you are covered in the event of a problem, and the senior facility you visit may want some type of liability waiver.

Ask your veterinarian for advice and information about health regulations and concerns. Any pet that spends time around people for therapeutic purposes must have a calm temperament. They need to be willing to tolerate strangers and a lot of touching. Your vet should be able to help you determine if your pet would be a good candidate as a therapy pet. My cat Garfield would be a great therapy pet, as he has a very laid back temperament, loves strangers (especially those who offer affection) and is not the least bit high strung.

Therapy animals also need to be up-to-date on their vaccinations and have regular checkups to ensure their health and the health of the seniors they visit. Your best bet would be to make an appointment with your vet for a checkup and a consultation about your pet's potential as a therapy pet.

The Delta Society advocates the use of pets for therapy purposes and offers tips on how your pet can become a therapy animal. In order to have your pet certified for therapy with The Delta Society, there are a few prerequisites. You may also need to contact your county's animal control office for any local requirements regarding pet therapy. Some regulations may vary from state-to-state, city and county.

For further reading, check out Julia Williams' article about the qualities a therapy cat needs, or Suzanne Alicie's article about therapy dogs in the CANIDAE Special Achievers program.

Photo by Federico Scotto d'Antuono

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Nursing Homes are going to the Dogs!

By Suzanne Alicie

People who love pets can’t imagine having to live without the comfort of a furry back to stroke or a purring foot warmer. However, as responsible pet owners age they may have to face the fact that they can no longer live alone and must move to a nursing home. Because there are so many people with different ailments and afflictions in a nursing home, more than likely the person won’t be able to take their beloved pets. New residents in a nursing home may experience depression due to the changes in their life and the loss of their pets.

Just imagine raising a puppy and providing it with wonderful care, attention and all the best in natural pet food like CANIDAE for years and then finding out that you are unable to care for him anymore. You are going to be moving to an assisted living facility and have to give up your precious pet to another family. It’s heartbreaking.

Because of this, many nursing homes provide animal therapy for their residents. There are dogs and cats that make regular visits to nursing homes and even hospitals, to allow the elderly to interact with an animal, to feel the soft fur and look into their loving eyes. This can make a huge difference in the quality of life that the person has in the nursing home. Therapy dogs and cats are trained to provide comfort, company and attention to all sorts of people. CANIDAE is a proud sponsor of several therapy dogs through their Special Achievers program.

Another option that the elderly pet lover and their family may want to consider is finding a nursing home that has a resident cat or dog. Many times these animals are allowed to wander around the place and visit with all the residents. Of course, these nursing homes can be difficult to find because so many people have allergies and other problems with animals, and the administrators want to be as accommodating as possible to all the people who need their services. Still, it's worth looking into.

The benefits of pets for the elderly are well known. Pets provide entertainment, companionship, comfort and therapeutic energy. Why should aging lead to the loss of the comforting love of animals that a person has enjoyed throughout their life? It shouldn’t. There are ways of making sure that the elderly, even in nursing homes, have the opportunity to enjoy a pet.

Responsible pet owners who have animals that are good with people or who are trained therapy dogs may want to consider contacting their local nursing homes to see if a visit can be arranged. Your pet will enjoy the interaction and excitement of a visit as much as the residents of the nursing home. Be sure to take along plenty of CANIDAE Snap-Bits™ so that your dog’s new friends can give him a treat!

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The Many Benefits of Pets for the Elderly

By Suzanne Alicie

We all know that pets benefit from being adopted and becoming part of a loving home. We also know that when children are exposed to pets they tend to be more responsible and caring, but when it comes to the elderly the benefits of having a pet are much more than those for younger folks. In comparison with other seniors without pets, elderly pet owners show these results:

• Overall lower blood pressure and pulse rate. Animals have a calming effect as well as causing the senior to walk and move more to improve circulation and health.

• Improved mood and less depression. Pets generate good feelings and lift the mood.

• More social interaction. By making visits to the park to walk a dog or taking a cat to the vet, the elderly are exposed to other people more often.

• More physical activity. Walking dogs and playing with pets are good ways for the elderly to get more exercise, which is beneficial for their overall health.

• Unconditional love and affection. These are things that many elderly people are missing in their lives, since younger family members are often busy with their own lives and don’t have time to visit and spend time with seniors.

• Less loneliness. Again, pets take the place of people in the life of the elderly and many of them spend a great deal of time interacting and talking to their pets.

Besides these benefits it has been shown that seniors who have pets tend to take better care of themselves and show improved health after obtaining a pet. The elderly are exceedingly responsible pet owners too. Interestingly, it has been found that when an elderly family member has a pet, more relatives with young children will visit them because the pet provides a distraction for the children while the adults visit. This provides not only more attention for the pet, and interaction with adults for the senior, but also a chance for the senior to interact with the youngsters using the pet as a common ground of interest.

Young dogs and cats that are energetic and need to run and play more are not the best choice for an elderly person. Instead, a mature pet that has been well trained will make a more suitable companion. These are animals that will soak up all the attention that the elderly person will give them, they will nap often and just be a constant presence.

When it comes to the benefits of pets for the elderly, there are many suitable pets. Every sort of animal, from cats and dogs to fish, can provide the companionship and entertainment that improves the quality of life for the elderly. Many physicians and therapists recommend that their elderly patients obtain a pet for companionship, for exercise, and for therapy.

Just as companionship, understanding and devotion are beneficial to teenagers, the same is true for the elderly. The simple act of having a cat to cuddle on their lap, or a dog to curl up at their feet can make a world of difference in the life of an elderly person.

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