Is Animal Therapy Effective in Care Homes?

Moving into a care home does not mean that everyday life should become centred around medical care. While supporting someone’s health and personal care needs is essential, opportunities to socialise and enjoy familiar activities are equally important. For some, that may be gardening, listening to music, or arts and crafts. For others, it might be as simple as spending time with an animal.

At Southfield Court, we have seen this through the visits of our dog mascot, Loki. His visits allow residents to spend time with an animal and bring back familiar memories. Whilst the happiness was infectious, it begs the question of how effective animal therapy is for those living in care homes.

What Is Animal-Assisted Therapy?

Animal-Assisted Therapy, also referred to as AAT, describes a range of activities centred around animals.

Animal-assisted interventions are a broad category that includes structured activities and therapeutic approaches involving animals. Animal-assisted therapy is generally more structured and has specific therapeutic goals, whereas a casual visit from a dog is more of a fun activity.

Not every animal visit is intended, or should be expected, to treat medical and psychological conditions. However, a dog visiting a care home can provide companionship, enjoyment, and an opportunity for residents to interact with something familiar.

Animal-assisted interventions have been studied to improve mood, agitation, social interaction, and quality of life, although these results do vary. A systematic review of animal-assisted interventions for people living with dementia found that several studies reported reductions in agitation, aggression, and social isolation.

A later meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials also found some improvements in behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia, particularly depression, but did not find significant improvements in cognitive function, activities of daily living, agitation or quality of life.

How Can Animals Benefit People Living in Care?

One of the simplest benefits of an animal visit is the opportunity for companionship.

Moving into residential care causes significant changes to someone’s usual routine and social life. People may no longer have the same opportunities to see neighbours, friends, family members, or pets they previously saw regularly.

An animal can provide a form of social interaction without requiring a lengthy conversation. This is an ideal opportunity for someone who is tired, has difficulty communicating, or does not enjoy joining a larger group activity.

Animal visits can also become something to look forward to. A regular visit creates familiarity and can give residents another event within their routine. Animal-related activities are one example of how care homes can offer opportunities that feel personal.

Animal-Assisted Activities and Dementia

Animal visits can be particularly valuable when supporting people living with dementia.

Dementia can affect memory, communication, decision-making, and a person’s ability to process their surroundings. An animal can bring comfort for those struggling with cognitive decline. This companionship does not require or expect someone to follow or contribute to a conversation.

These interactions can also create opportunities for staff and residents to connect. A resident may begin talking about a pet they owned as a child, their family home, or memories from a previous stage of their life.

The evidence around dementia and animal-assisted interventions is promising, but it is not conclusive. A 2026 overview of systematic reviews found moderate evidence for improvements in depression and BPSD, while finding insufficient evidence to establish clear benefits for outcomes such as agitation, quality of life, cognition and activities of daily living.

This means animal visits are best viewed as one element of person-centred dementia care rather than a treatment for the condition itself.

The Power of Reminiscence

An animal can also become a powerful prompt for reminiscence. Many people have grown up with pets or spent part of their adult lives caring for animals. A visit from a dog may bring back memories of a childhood pet or a dog they owned with their partner.

Reminiscence involves using familiar prompts to encourage someone to talk about their past. Photographs, music, objects and other sensory experiences can all be used to start conversations about important memories and experiences. Reminiscence can help people living with dementia maintain their sense of self, confidence and self-esteem, as well as opening up opportunities for conversation and social interaction.

Animals can naturally become one of those prompts. For example, a resident who sees Loki might begin talking about the dog they had when their children were young. The purpose is not to test someone’s memory or try to prevent dementia from progressing. Instead, it is about giving the person a casual opportunity to talk, connect with others, and revisit parts of their life that remain meaningful to them.

Holistic Care at Mulberry

At Mulberry, we believe that life in a care home should include far more than meeting someone’s physical care needs. Activities and experiences should reflect the people who live in our homes, their interests, their histories and the things that bring them enjoyment.

At Southfield Court, Loki’s visits give residents the chance to enjoy animal companionship, share memories and spend time together in a relaxed setting. For some residents, it may be the excitement of seeing a familiar four-legged friend. For others, it may be the memories that come with him.

Animal-assisted activities are not a replacement for medical care or dementia support, and the research does not suggest that they are a cure for dementia. However, there is evidence that they can contribute to mood, social interaction and wellbeing, particularly as part of our wider person-centred approach.