Let’s Chat: Health benefits of pet therapy

By Linda Tooth on December 6, 2023.

Recently, I had the most amazing morning that included students, seniors and cats. A group of second-year nursing students – clinical group 5 from Medicine Hat College – asked if I would be interested in participating in their Pet Therapy Intervention morning with the residents of a local seniors’ residence. I was thrilled to be part of this event.

I brought two kittens and two adult cats from the Medicine Hat SPCA and we were greeted warmly by staff and residents. One of the residents whom I have known for over 30-plus years was thrilled to be able to hold kittens and have conversations outside her apartment. She told me repeatedly I had made her day, and the smile on her face was of pure joy as one of the kittens called her lap home.

Elder Care Alliance states there are many benefits of having pet therapy as part of a health and wellness program for those living their senior years.

Those benefits are providing mental stimulation, decreasing anxiety, helping people with memory disorders recall specific memories, reducing loneliness, lowering blood pressure, triggering the release of endorphins that boost mood, reducing overall physical pain and improving motor skills.

I know of one seniors’ complex in Medicine Hat that offers residents the opportunity to spend time with their facility cats. Those cats are from the Medicine Hat SPCA and have an area dedicated to them, with residents able to visit at any time.

I toured this facility recently and was in awe of the area dedicated to the cats. I’m surprised there aren’t more local seniors’ residences jumping on board for something that can help with health and wellness for their residents.

Cats require minimal supervision. If they have food, toys, water, a clean litter box and some human interaction, they are good. The room we were in with the nursing students was purr-fect for a permanent area where cats and their residents could spend time together.

We must do more to support the seniors who have lived and worked in our communities. Many do not have family to visit and so Pet Therapy Intervention can be a huge help with so many health-related issues they face.

If you are interested in having cats at your facility, please reach out as I would love to chat with you.