Pet therapy in aged care: How animals bring joy and comfort

If you’ve ever had a pet, you already know the joy they bring with their quirky personalities, adorable squishy faces and those sweet little paws that somehow always find the most inconvenient places to rest. Whether it’s their playful antics or their comforting presence, pets have a way of making life a little brighter. Beyond the laughter and affection, however, they offer something even more powerful – the ability to improve our wellbeing in ways we may not even realise. 

And now even science is in on it, with research showing that emotional support animals, or pet therapy, can offer a huge range of benefits for those in aged care. 

What is an emotional support animal, really?

While there are many dogs that work as disability support dogs, an emotional support animal is a little different. They are there to provide emotional comfort, whether someone is lonely, stressed, depressed, or just wants to give something soft and loving a hug. 

It should come as no surprise that Kiwis love our pets. Almost two-thirds of homes (63%) have a pet in the house, and 60% of those who don’t have a pet currently would like one. We have one of the highest pet ownership rates in the world, and so much of that comes down to the huge emotional comfort and support pets provide. 

Naturally, our love for pets doesn’t disappear as we move into our senior years.  

How pet therapy can alleviate loneliness in seniors

Sadly, many older people in New Zealand feel lonely. 

A recent report found that loneliness in New Zealand is reaching epidemic levels, and that a shocking 73% of Kiwi’s aged 65 – 69 feel lonely.

Enter and adorable pet.

A pet can be a balm for loneliness, providing companionship and a source of affection. To put a number on that, pet owners in one study were 36% less likely to report loneliness than non-pet owners. 

Pets and their ability to reduce stress and anxiety 

You probably don’t need a scientific study to believe the claim that pets can reduce stress and anxiety – but here’s some evidence anyway. 

In a study of adults over 50, less stress was one of the key benefits of pet ownership. Plus, studies show pets in the workplace help to reduce stress there as well. 

Simply hugging a pet can help to decrease levels of cortisol (the stress hormone), and lower blood pressure. 

The SPCA even reports that pets can help people cope with the impact of distressing life events. 

So there you have it –having pets around can be a wonderful way to relax and destress, on top of the cuteness factor. 

How pet therapy can improve physical wellness in aged care

Dogs in particular can encourage physical exercise, as even the little ones need daily walks to stay healthy and happy. This can help with your fitness, and even weight loss goals when paired with a healthy diet. 

Other pets can also offer physical health benefits. Healthify highlights how simply heading outside to collect eggs from a chicken coop or clean out a rabbit cage can be good for getting you outdoors. Cats aren’t particularly active, but if you get up every time they walk in and out of the door, you’ll add about 400 extra sit-down-stand-ups to each day.  

Finding somewhere to retire where you can keep a pet 

The benefits of owning a pet in your retirement years are many, but you may need to keep them in mind when you move out of a big family home into your next property. 

Private properties are obviously the easiest answer, and even if you opt for an inner-city apartment, there can be the option to keep an indoor cat, small dog, birds, or guinea pigs. 

It can be more difficult if you move into a retirement village. Some villages don’t allow residents to bring in pets, so you’ll need to check the rules before making any commitments. 

Fortunately, most villages do allow pets – with rules. 

Typically, retirement villages in rural settings might be more receptive to larger animals, but otherwise you might need to stick to smaller animals.  

Dogs might need to complete obedience training before moving in, and they may need to have vaccinations before arriving. 

At the end of the day, each rest home and village have their own rules, so you’ll need to check them carefully and chat to the manager to ensure your furred or feathered friend can join you. 

What to do if you can’t have a pet in your retirement facility

If your chosen retirement facility doesn’t allow pets, or it simply doesn’t make sense to bring one in, there are still options for you to get your furry fix. 

There are some charities and businesses that bring therapy pets into retirement villages and rest homes so everyone can enjoy a few cuddles. You can speak to the activities manager about requesting a visit. 

Alternatively, you might be able to go to them. SPCAs centres are open to the public, so you might be able to wrangle the activities manager into organising a trip, or you may be able to take a trip of your own. And even though you can’t adopt one, the SPCA does encourage people to leave a gift for the animals in their will, which can be a beautiful way to say thanks for a lifetime of being man’s best friend – and greatest 5am wake-up call. 

Speaking of your final wishes, keep in mind that Seniors Life Insurance can be one way to ensure you can leave a legacy behind for your loved ones (including the furry ones). 

1 Jun 2025