October 1 - Taking the lead on pet therapy

Ostrich have invited Barry Sweetbaum, Managing Director of SweetTree Home Care Services - who are fellow partners of Older People's Day which takes place today 1st October - to write a guest blog which gives us an insight into the benefits of pet therapy – and introduces us to a couple of very special furry friends!

At SweetTree it’s not just our carers taking the ‘lead’ in homecare, it’s our pooches too!

Rusty the Yorkshire terrier is the latest addition to the team at SweetTree. Rusty is a highly trained therapy dog who visits people suffering from dementia, brain injury and learning disabilities. He joins wheaten terrier Billy as part of our specialist care services.

Spending time with animals can have a huge impact on both individuals and their families. As well as animals having a soothing and calming influence on those in ill health, pet therapy like that provided by Rusty and Billy is a unique and very powerful form of therapy.

For example, for people with dementia the world around them can seem alien and unfamiliar, which can be very alarming. But dogs and other animals continue to be recognisable and to fit within memories - as a dog is still a dog.

That is why pet therapy forms an important part of our specialist dementia programme, which is based on the principles of activity, stimulation, socialisation and nutrition. Our goal is to make sure everyone can enjoy a meaningful and stimulating life whether they need or depend on our services. 

Helping to reduce isolation

Our pet therapy sessions aim to reduce the stress and anxiety of our clients experiencing isolation due to living alone, or due to their diagnosed care needs. Each pet therapy session is intended to meet the different abilities and preferences of our clients. This could simply be petting, grooming and companionship, or a brisk walk in the local park. Even the dog breeds themselves cater for large dog and small dog lovers.  

It has been revealed by Age UK that loneliness is one of if not the biggest issue for people in later life. The charity has discovered that half of all people aged above 75 live alone, with 1-10 people aged above 65 saying they often feel lonely as a result of their age. Planned visits can cheer up the day and bring a smile to those whose world can be isolating and bewildering, but they can also improve mood and feelings of wellbeing.

Engagement with animals is also easy as dogs like Rusty and Billy provide interaction without worry and this sometimes acts as a great ice breaker and conversation starter.

It’s always amazing to see the joy that a visit from Rusty and Billy can bring and we hope to build on their success and to expand our animal team with the introduction of a feline friend in the not too distant future. 

More about SweetTree

SweetTree provides domiciliary and care at home for families on a live in basis. They can also offer help for those with dementia, learning disabilities, brain injuries and other mental health related illnesses. Their offices are situated in the heart of London but their services are available nationwide. So if you’d like to discover more about their services, you can visit the SweetTree website. They can also be contacted on Twitter @SweetTreeHCS.