The Power of Animal Therapy for Individuals with Dementia

What is it about the act of patting a dog on the head, stroking the ears of a purring cat, or looking into the gentle eyes of a horse that brings a sense of tranquility and joy?

Scientists have been scratching their heads over that question for decades. And while there appears to be no magic inherent in the animals themselves, the impact on humans is very real. Our Anthem Memory Care communities witness it regularly as residents engage with a variety of therapy animals who pass through our doors.

Animal therapy helps to improve many health conditions. For example, the Psychiatric Times reports that animal therapy is being used successfully to treat a range of anxiety disorders, including PTSD and ADHD. Therapy animals are also used to buoy the spirits of hospital patients and disabled individuals.  

Is there any science behind the effectiveness of animal therapy? The short answer is yes. Studies have found that positive interactions with animals can decrease levels of a hormone called cortisol, also referred to as the “stress hormone”. This helps to reduce anxiety.

And there are studies on how interactions with animals impacts behavior. Studies reported in the National Institutes of Health medical journals, and sources including The Alzheimer’s Association have noted several ways in which animal therapy improves the health and wellbeing of individuals with dementia, including the following:

• Increases a sense of wellbeing. Interactions with pets or other animals as a part of animal-assisted therapy has been shown to lower blood pressure, reduce anxiety and create an overall a sense of well-being.
• Curbs aggressive behavior. Animal-assisted therapy can temporarily reduce behavioral issues such as aggression and agitation. The act of interacting with an animal causes the individual to focus on the animal. That focus can help tune out triggers for behavioral issues.
• Sparks verbal communication. That act of interacting with an animal encourages verbal response and can spark comments and verbal engagement with the animal and those around them.
• Improves social connections. As an individual engages with the animal they relax and are more able to connect in positive ways with others around them who are also interacting with the anmal. It can build a greater sense of camaraderie.  
• Triggers memory. Engaging with a therapy dog or cat often triggers old memories as well. Many individuals with dementia have been animal lovers all their lives. The act of interacting with a therapy animal can stir up memories of their own favorite family pets.

Animals provide a natural, but powerful therapy. And while the benefits can be hard to quantify, they are very real. Our residents are proof of that. Our communities have captured many wonderful moments of residents engaging with animals.

Here are a few of our favorites:

This resident’s face lights up as she strokes the muzzle of this gentle labrador at Chelsea Place Memory Care in Aurora, Colorado.

Harvester Place Memory Care resident in Burr Ridge, Illinois gets a kick out of this lovely sloth, courtesy of the Scales & Tales Traveling Zoo.

This beautiful working horse waits for a nose rub from a resident of Morningside Place Memory Care in Overland Park, Kansas. Notice the anticipation in her face!

We love this photo of a resident of Emerald Place Memory Care in Glenview, Illinois engaging with Bella, the resident therapy dog.

This resident of Greenridge Place Memory Care in Westminster, Colorado proves that cats like nurturing too!

Are you caring for a loved one who is also an animal lover? If they don’t have a pet themselves, make an effort to connect them with the family or neighbor dog or cat. They will come to look forward to those interactions and you will begin to experience the benefits those visits bring to your loved one and to you as well. And be prepared that they may spark a memory or two in the process.

We also encourage you to visit our Anthem Memory Care community websites as well as our Facebook pages. You’ll see lots of great photos and videos of residents engaging with our therapy animals and the smiles that go with them.

(We love our header image! It’s hard not to feel some of the enjoy this resident of Chelsea Place Memory Care is experiencing engaging with a pony at a local stable.)