Meet Our Four-Legged Staff!
Study after study has shown the emotional and health benefits of owning and caring for a pet. But many elders and disabled people are unable to keep a pet full time due to physical or mental limitations. This is why we encourage four-legged support staff at Silver Leaf. Being visited regularly by a well-trained comfort or therapy dog brightens our clients’ days. Here are just some of the measurable results of pets being part of home caregiving.
Emotionally, pets can provide clients with a feeling of companionship, as well as:
- The gentleness and caring of animals with instinctive nurturing abilities
- Increased social interaction with caregivers who bring a therapy pet into their home
- Decreased feelings of depression and anxiety as the client forms a bond with a pet
- Reduced feelings of loneliness by spending time with and caring for a pet, even for a few minutes at a time
- Increased mobility gained from petting, walking, and brushing the pet
- Stimulation of memory and other mental functions due to pet therapy and having interactions with pets and related discussions with caregiver
The benefits of the human-animal bond have been documented for centuries, yet the relationship between a client and a therapy animal seems to extend beyond simple companionship. There are also emotional, physical, and mental benefits. Of course, if a client doesn’t enjoy animals or has allergies, we respect their needs and leave our furry friends at home.
Emotionally, pets can provide the elderly with a feeling of companionship, as well as:
- A sense of gentleness and caring since animals are known to be instinctive nurturers, especially to ailing humans.
- Increased social interaction with caregivers who bring a pet into their home
- Pets can alleviate depression and anxiety works as the client forming a bond with a pet
- Reduced loneliness by spending time with and caring for a pet, even for a few minutes
- Increased mobility from petting, walking, and brushing the pet
- Pet therapy can also provide significant mental benefits to patients, especially those with memory loss:
- Mental stimulation through contact with pet owning caregivers
- Memory stimulation by comparing the therapy pet to other pets they may have owned
Source: https://caringpeopleinc.com/blog/pet-therapy-elderly-ultimate-guide/#4



