The Magic of Animals for Seniors with Dementia

Spending time with pets and animals is shown to improve the quality of life for people, including seniors dealing with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Animals have a special way of lowering high feelings of stress and alleviating depression and anxiety. By playing with our pets and bonding with them, the human brain has been found to produce more hormones that calm and soothe us– like serotonin and oxytocin. Memory care facilities, like MorningStar at West Valley, have incorporated pet therapy as a unique therapeutic technique into one of their many regular care activities. For individuals living with dementia, animals have been shown to provide even more amazing benefits.

Animals always seem to be aware when someone needs special care or attention. According to research by BCM Psychiatry, “Animal Assisted Therapy improves a person's mental and physical health. In the area of mental health, it releases an automatic relaxation response, reduces the feeling of anxiety, contributes to the lowering of loneliness, and helps in the recall of memories.” Knowing this, MorningStar’s programmatic approach to dementia Care incorporates Montessori-based therapies and creates individualized service plans to address the needs of residents. Our gentle flow of purposeful activities such as animal therapy is incorporated to heal and comfort our memory care residents.

When our seniors interact with animals, they experience relief from agitation, restlessness, and disorientation. Animal therapy in memory care facilities can also be found to improve short-term memory, contribute to slightly higher physical activity, enhance eating habits, and reduce loneliness. Not only is this form of therapy included in our memory care routine, but we are pet-friendly in our assisted living facilities as we recognize the tremendous ministry animals are to all of us. 

For exceptional memory care, MorningStar West Valley, set to open in fall 2022, provides compassionate, individualized care for those with mild to advanced stages of Alzheimer's and other dementia-related diseases. We offer support to residents as well as their families with an array of services, wellness programs, and activities essential to the quality of life. 

Please contact us to learn more about senior living at MorningStar’s memory care facility. Our staff is happy to answer any questions you have. Our website also provides information on our company’s history, vision, and mission which discusses our exceptional senior living in West San Jose that seniors can rely on. 

MorningStar West Valley proudly provides the very best in dementia care and memory care with our unique mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest.” With a foundation built on honoring God, valuing all seniors, and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve, we create a true home for residents amid a beautiful setting. Please contact us for more information about one of the finest alzheimers homes West San Jose, California has to offer.