The Benefits of Pet Therapy for Seniors
Pet therapy, or animal assisted therapy, offers physical, social, emotional, and cognitive benefits for everyone, specifically older adults. Not only is it fun, research has shown that pet therapy can reduce blood pressure and improve cardiovascular health.
For seniors in memory care, pet therapy has been shown to provide particular benefits, including stimulating focus and creating a calming and uplifting experience to improve overall mental well-being. That’s one of the reasons why senior living communities like Westminster Village in West Lafayette, IN, offer enriching and healing therapy activities like art therapy, music therapy, and, a resident favorite, pet therapy. Continue reading to discover more about Westminster Village’s pet therapy program and its benefits for residents.
How Pet Therapy Helps Seniors
Innovative therapy options for engagement and connection can provide incredible benefits for older adults, especially those experiencing memory-related difficulties. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, pet therapy can help seniors navigate dementia or other cognitive conditions, and has been shown to improve mood and encourage social connections — including nonverbal companionship with furry friends.
Spending time with animals can also help seniors recall memories of previous pets, as well as boost their overall mood. Pet therapy also triggers the release of feel-good endorphins, which reduces stress and anxiety. Innovative therapy activities for seniors go above and beyond standard wellness programs to support both mental and emotional health.
Pet Therapy at Westminster Village
Westminster Village’s memory care neighborhood, Magnolia Court, opened in 2023 and has incorporated pet therapy since the very beginning! Our community is frequently visited by a wide variety of furry, scaly, and fluffy friends, from a whole litter of golden retriever puppies to zoo animals like bunnies, lizards, and even a therapy llama.
When dogs visit, residents will often hold and cuddle puppies and take turns petting older dogs. Our community has also had a therapy dog stay in the neighborhood for a longer duration to spend time with residents. We regularly work with volunteer organizations to bring animals to visit, as well as the Columbian Park Zoo from Lafayette, IN, and a local farm that is home to Jasmine, the therapy llama.
During the therapy visit, an animal’s owner or handler is often greeted with lots of questions, like what kind of animal/breed it is, how old they are, who it belongs to, etc. In addition to the animals themselves, these interactions provide social and cognitive stimulation as well as emotional support.
Pet therapy at Westminster Village promotes positive memory recall and reduces anxiety, with residents often feeling happier, calmer, and stress-free.
Memory Care at Westminster Village
Westminster Village’s Magnolia Court provides personalized memory care in a safe and enriching environment that emphasizes connection, dignity, and daily engagement. In addition to our dedicated memory care team, every Westminster Village staff member is professionally trained in memory care, so you can rest easy knowing your loved one is supported 24/7.
With innovative therapy activities, state-of-the-art memory care technology, and highly trained staff, our memory care residents enjoy a safe and supportive environment each and every day. Contact us today to learn more about memory care at Westminster Village.
