Special needs, Care homes and Animal therapy sessions

However, bringing their own animals into a care home is not always possible and inviting Our Animal World can resolve the issue. We bring some of our animals into care homes as well as SEN schools, nurseries, or can arrange animal therapy sessions. Animal therapy in care homes started out with household pets such as cats and dogs. Now the therapy also includes more exotic animals such as snakes, rabbits, bearded dragons and birds. The interaction with different creatures helps stimulate the residents’ brains. It helps to keep residents mentally active and engaged. Animals therapy brings people together. The therapy helps people cope with adverse situations, to settle and comfort people. Studies show that animal-assisted therapy helps to combat depression, ADHD, schizophrenia, loneliness, autism and PTSD. Michele Morrison in 2007 covered some of these in her study called ‘health benefits of animal-assisted interventions'. Animal therapy in care homes was also shown specifically to decrease the agitated behaviours of residents who have dementia. Therapy increases residents social interactions as it helps to remember and talk about past pets and animal experiences.