Many senior centers, assisted living communities, nursing homes and hospitals welcome visits from therapy dogs. A friendly, calm dog can brighten a day, start a conversation and give people something to look forward to. It helps to know what a therapy dog is, and what it is not, before you look for one.
What a therapy dog does
A therapy dog is usually a volunteer's own pet that has been trained and evaluated to be calm, gentle and comfortable around many different people. The dog and its handler visit groups or individuals to offer comfort and companionship. A visit might mean petting, brushing or walking with the dog, or simply sitting together and talking.
For older adults, especially those who live alone or have moved into a care setting, these visits can offer:
- Companionship and comfort. Time with a dog can be a welcome break from loneliness or routine.
- Conversation and connection. Dogs give residents and visitors something easy to talk about, and often bring a group together.
- Gentle activity. Reaching to pet a dog, brushing it or taking a short walk can be a reason to move.
- Something to look forward to. Regular visits can become a favorite part of the week.
A therapy dog works for many people rather than one owner, and it is not trained to perform tasks for a person's disability.
Therapy dogs are not service dogs
The old version of this article mixed the two up, so here is the difference.
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a service dog is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability. Examples include guiding someone who is blind, alerting someone who is deaf, pulling a wheelchair, helping during a seizure, or reminding a person to take medication. Some service dogs are trained to alert their handler to changes in blood sugar. Service dogs are protected under the ADA and may go with their handler into most public places.
A therapy dog does not do those jobs and has no special public-access rights. It may go only where it is invited, such as a facility that runs a visiting program.
An emotional support animal is a pet that comforts its owner. Under the ADA, a dog whose only role is comfort or emotional support is not a service animal. Other laws, such as housing rules, treat emotional support animals differently, so check the rules that apply to your situation.
If you or a family member need help with mobility, medical alerts, vision or hearing, ask your doctor about a trained service dog from a reputable program. A therapy dog is not a substitute.
How to arrange therapy dog visits
- Ask your senior center or care community. Many already host therapy dog teams or can invite one.
- Contact a therapy dog organization. Regional and national groups test and register volunteer teams and can tell you whether visits are available in your area.
- Ask about the team's training and insurance. A facility will usually want to know the team is registered with a recognized organization.
- Plan around allergies and fears. Not everyone is comfortable around dogs, so visits work best when people can choose to join.
If you want to volunteer with your own dog
Many seniors enjoy becoming therapy dog handlers themselves. Organizations usually look for a dog that is friendly, calm, healthy and well trained, and a handler who can commit to regular visits. Almost any breed or size can qualify. Temperament matters more than breed. Contact a therapy dog organization to learn about its evaluation and registration steps.
To find activities and programs near you, search the SeniorCenter.us directory.