Pet assisted therapy in care home settings comes in a variety of forms. It’s essentially providing treatment for mental or physical conditions through interaction between residents and animals. This may include simply having a dog or cat on-site for everyone to share. For residents who have been used to regular contact with animals, having a pet companion from the very outset of their arrival can be particularly reassuring and can ease the settling in period.

For more specialist therapy, certain breeds of dog have been trained to support those with vision or hearing loss, and recently, dogs are being trained to assist with other, extensive health problems. For example, some dogs can sense the rise and fall in a diabetic’s blood sugar levels or the onset of a panic attack.

Whilst dogs can be intelligent creatures, first and foremost with the right training and care, they make excellent companions that give unconditional affection. Far more independent by nature and less physically demanding, cats too can be equally sociable and friendly. A kitten acquired soon after weaning can learn to interact comfortably with people.

But resident pets can extend beyond at dogs and cats. Different animals may even unlock memories and anecdotes about past pets prompting animated exchanges and laughter. Rabbits are another popular care home addition and are far easier to look after. Introducing a budgie to a social area can provide a different focus for residents as they listen to its chirruping.

Chickens and ducks are also proving to be a well-received by care homes. You may like to consider hatching eggs in an incubator on-site: a guaranteed way to gain the interest of your residents. Having chickens provide fresh eggs each day is another talking point not just with residents but also with visiting families and friends. Not only that, collecting eggs can be a way to get some fresh air and exercise, adding a sense of purpose to the day.