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