Bringing Companionship and Emotional Support Through Animals Therapy
Animal therapy in care homes provides significant physical, emotional, and social benefits. This page is designed for care home managers, staff, and families who are seeking to enhance the wellbeing of residents through animal-assisted interventions. Here, you’ll find everything you need to know about animal therapy in care homes—including its benefits, what happens during a session, health and safety considerations, the importance of working with professional organisations, and how to book a session with Wild Science.
Animal therapy in care homes is more than just an activity. It is a powerful way to support mental health, emotional wellbeing, and daily happiness for residents. Many care homes now include animal-assisted therapy as part of their regular activities because of the real difference it makes.
Animal therapy, also known as animal-assisted therapy, involves guided interactions between residents and carefully selected animals. These sessions are designed to create a calm and relaxing atmosphere where residents can connect with animals, spend time together, and enjoy meaningful moments. Animal therapy in care homes provides significant physical, emotional, and social benefits, such as reducing stress, improving mood, and fostering a sense of belonging.
At Wild Science, we deliver carefully designed animal therapy sessions for care homes, nursing homes, and rehabilitation centres. Our visits introduce gentle animals such as guinea pigs, rabbits, reptiles, and other suitable therapy animals. Each interaction is safe, guided, and adapted to the needs of residents.
Why Animal Therapy Matters in Care Homes
Each animal therapy session is designed to be calm, engaging, and easy to follow. Residents are gently introduced to the animals in a relaxed setting where they feel safe and comfortable.
They can spend time observing or interacting with the animals at their own pace. Some may choose to hold or stroke an animal, while others prefer to simply watch and enjoy the experience.
Even residents with limited verbal communication can take part. Interaction through touch and facial expressions allows everyone to feel included without pressure. These shared moments naturally encourage social interaction between residents, care teams, and visiting family members.
If you are looking to create a more engaging and supportive environment, Wild Science can organise a therapy session tailored to your care home.
Did you know that Research suggests that regular animal interaction through animal-assisted interventions can improve mood by up to 80%, reduce isolation, and create a sense of belonging.
What Happens in an Animal Therapy Session?
During our animal visit, residents meet a variety of furry friends and various animals, including guinea pigs, rabbits, reptiles, and even farm animals like chickens and ducks (Note: Birds may make an appearance but are not guaranteed).
Some sessions include therapy Guinea Pigs or Reptiles, while others introduce smaller species for gentle handling and interaction. For example, stroking a rabbit, feeding a guinea pig, or even watching a tortoise walk can spark joy and encourage balanced mental and emotional well-being.
Residents can:
- Hold or stroke a trained animal under staff supervision
- Interact through touch and facial expressions, even if verbal communication is limited
- Share the experience with family members, staff, and other residents
These benefits of pet therapy create lasting happy memories and strengthen bonds within the care setting.
Therapeutic Power of Animal Encounters
The therapeutic relationships between people and animals have been recognised for centuries. Animals naturally calm stress, reduce agitation, and promote natural healing.
The health benefits of animal-assisted activities include:
- Lower stress levels
- Reduced blood pressure
- Improved mobility and fine motor skills
- Better cognitive function
- Greater sense of inclusion and confidence
Our fantastic team of care specialists regularly adapts sessions to meet the needs of retirement living communities, dementia care, and community care environments.
Measuring the Benefits of Animal Therapy in Care
We encourage care homes to regularly seek input from residents, staff, and family members about the impact of our sessions. Many homes also use leading care home review platforms to track the success of their accessible activities programme.
By measuring outcomes such as resident participation, mood improvements, and the benefits animal visits bring, homes can see the full therapeutic power of our workshops.
“Residents said it was the highlight of the week. The animals were gentle, and the staff created a calm, safe space for everyone.” – Care Home in Liverpool
Health and Safety Considerations in Animal Therapy
When implementing animal therapy in care homes, health and safety for both residents and animals are paramount. All sessions are carefully planned to ensure a safe environment, including risk assessments, hygiene protocols, and animal welfare checks. Our handlers are trained to monitor both the animals and participants, ensuring that interactions are gentle and appropriate for all involved. We follow RSPCA welfare standards and maintain comprehensive insurance for every visit.
The Importance of Professional Collaboration
Collaboration with professional animal therapy organisations is crucial for the success and sustainability of animal therapy programs in care homes. Working with experienced providers like Wild Science ensures that sessions are delivered by DBS-checked handlers and SEN-trained staff, using animals that are accustomed to therapeutic environments. This professional approach guarantees the highest standards of care, safety, and positive outcomes for residents.
Whether it’s a special event, routine animal therapy in care, or a community gathering, Wild Science provides unforgettable animal handling experiences that bring comfort, joy, and therapeutic benefits to residents.
A Service Delivered Across the UK
Wild Science provides animal therapy sessions across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Whether your care home is in Manchester, Glasgow, Norwich, Durham, or a nearby area, our team can bring the experience directly to you.
There is no need to organise transport or external visits. We bring everything needed, including animals, equipment, and experienced handlers.
If you are searching for animal therapy in care homes near you, this mobile service makes it simple to organise meaningful and engaging sessions.
Book Your Care Home Animal Therapy Workshop
Bring the benefits of animal therapy to your residents. Whether you’re in Durham, Norwich, Lincoln, Taunton, Glasgow, Manchester, or nearby areas, our team can create the perfect party-style workshop or calming session for your care setting.
Give your residents the chance to experience the healing power of animal visits and create lasting happy memories with Wild Science.
Please note that the list of animals we bring to events may vary, and we cannot guarantee the presence of any particular species.
Related Services:
- School Workshops: Curriculum-aligned science and animal education
- Birthday Parties: Memorable animal encounters for special celebrations
- Corporate Events: Team-building experiences with wildlife
- Care Home Visits: Therapeutic animal interactions for residents
- Private Consultations: Expert advice on pet care and animal behaviour
Service Areas: London, Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, and throughout the South East of England
Available for: Schools, birthday parties, corporate events, care homes, and special events.
For more details, up-to-date prices, and to make a booking, please call us or reach us on WhatsApp
