Pet Therapy
Pets not only offer companionship and unconditional love, in fact, emerging research suggests they may have the ability to boost health and general well-being, especially in the elderly.
What is pet therapy?
Pet therapy, or animal-assisted therapy, is a type of therapy involving animals as a form of treatment. The goal may be to improve a patient’s social, emotional, or cognitive functioning.
Pet therapy can be offered in a residential aged care setting, retirement living, home and community care, and rehabilitation centres and hospices. Animals used in the therapy may include domesticated pets and farm animals.
Benefits of Pet Therapy
Research has revealed many benefits to pet therapy; some of which may include:
- Decreased blood pressure and stress
- Improved communication and reminiscence
- Many people who are normally unresponsive to other therapies may ‘brighten up’ and ‘chat’ with a pet.
- Pets may motivate and encourage the elderly to stay healthy and exercise, giving them a feeling of being ‘needed’.
- Motor skills may improve with the assistance of an animal trained for pet therapy.
Read more about Pet Therapy here https://www.agedcareguide.com.au/information/pet-therapy
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Chickens at BlueWave Living
By having chickens at BlueWave Living, we have seen a very positive effect on our residents’ wellbeing. Recent studies have shown that pet therapy can reduce the feeling of isolation and depression
We find that the residents will venture outdoors more often to spend time with the chickens either rounding them up, patting them, feeding them or just enjoying their company.
Other residents enjoy holding, and spending time with the chickens indoors.
