Pet Therapy
The Therapeutic Power Of Pets
PETS: THE BEST THERAPY LIFE HAS TO OFFER
The best medicine for some medical or mental health issues isn’t just medicine at all … it’s pet therapy (also known as animal-assisted therapy) in the form of a wet nose or a fun trick to brighten a resident’s day.
To reap the many benefits of animal therapy, we’ve developed an on-going partnership with the 4-H Club. Students bring their beloved show animals to Encore for showmanship training before fairs or competitions. Residents are both impressed and delighted by the animals as they prance around showing off their skills.
Senior-approved animals of all varieties are frequently stopping by. An alpaca, a frequent Encore visitor, is close to earning its animal therapy certificate. In addition to show animals, residents are visited by rodeo workers and fair animals, like bull riders, rodeo clowns, and horses. And, of course, we have to mention Encore’s very own pet mascot, Rosie!
Studies show that simply the nature of some animals make them instinctive healers for humans, providing unconditional love, emotional presence, and true companionship.
We’ve also seen first-hand the positive impact the human-animal bond has had on our residents. Pet therapy has been known to boost well-being and help improve health issues including high blood pressure and anxiety.
The benefits of pet therapy for seniors are abundant and may include:
- Lowering blood pressure
- Releasing endorphins that have a calming effect
- Reducing anxiety and loneliness
- Diminishing overall physical pain
- Stimulating memory
- Increasing socialization and sense of community
- Improving verbal communication
- Motivating physical activity
- Boosting self-esteem
- Reducing boredom and loneliness
- Improving assisted or independent movement