Pet Therapy in our Homes

Some people might think animals don't belong in a care home, but we're not like some people.

In addition to ongoing health issues, residents in care homes may deal at times with the likes of loneliness, depression, and anxiety. We really feel that introducing Pet Therapy into our homes is a great way of combatting this.

Pet therapy gives residents the chance to converse and share memories of beloved pet's stories, which can help them feel connected to their families outside the home. It’s also a great form of exercise as bringing in animals can encourage residents to take part in some more physical activities.

As well as improving physical health, a recent report finds that the positive effect of owning a pet on mental health is so great that it should be considered by doctors and nurses when treating patients with long-term conditions or illnesses. Although our residents don’t get to keep the pets on a permanent basis, we still believe regular visits from different animals is extremely beneficial to their health and wellbeing in the long term.

Since first introducing Pet therapy, it’s been a huge hit across our homes, and we can see the positive effect it has on our residents almost instantly (as you can see by the smiles in the photos below).

And don’t worry, we’re not opening our doors to a zoo! Pet therapy can be just as effective whether it be an everyday pet like a 4-legged dog, or something a bit more exotic like an 8-legged tarantula (for our residents who are a bit more daring). We even have animals visit us with no legs, just like the snake you can see below.

Here are some photos from our recent creature comfort visits