Pet therapy
Animal-assisted therapy is one of our residents’ favourites
Pet therapy is far more than just playtime with a furry friend. Under guidance from our licensed therapists and physiotherapists, animal-assisted therapy helps our aged care residents fully bloom, physically and emotionally.
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30+ years of experience in residential care
Wide range of therapies run by qualified specialists
Group therapy and tailored individual treatment
Safe, secure and therapeutic amenities
The remarkable health benefits of pet therapy in aged care
Pet therapy is one of the most enjoyable and rewarding psychological treatments suggested by our specialists. It’s not hard to see why. Apart from the endless joy of playing with trained therapy animals, pet therapy is well-studied and has a proven record of dramatically improving the physical and mental health of elderly patients — including those with dementia.
Nursing home residents participating in our individual or community therapy animal program can expect a bevy of benefits. These can include:
- Muscle development and fine motor skills, improving assisted or independent movement
- Improved verbal communication function, improving self-confidence and encouraging socialisation
- Lowered blood pressure and stress, improving overall mental health and wellbeing
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Mental health care
While we may suggest pet therapy, it is far from our only program. Our residents are entitled to a personalised mental health care plan created in consultation with their existing health care specialists.
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Security and comfort
At first, a nursing home can feel like an unfamiliar or stressful environment. We’ll make every effort to ensure you or your loved one feels safe in their private, tranquil, premium accommodations.
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24-hour care
All rooms and amenities are fitted with call buttons, ensuring our residents have round-the-clock access to our on-call registered nurses and medical teams.
Our therapeutic programs
Oxa Care celebrates diversity, welcoming residents from all walks of life and fostering an inclusive and vibrant community.
Pet therapy brings the joy and comfort of animal companionship to our residents, enhancing their emotional well-being.
Our exercise classes are designed to keep residents physically active and engaged, promoting fitness and vitality.
Run by licensed therapists, our invaluable art therapy sessions improve residents’ mental, emotional, cognitive and physical abilities. Learn more.
Music therapy sessions are available to provide residents with emotional and cognitive support, fostering a sense of comfort and well-being.
A wide variety of engaging activities at Oxa Care cater to residents' interests and preferences, ensuring they have an enriching and fulfilling lifestyle.
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Wellness programs focus on the holistic well-being of our residents, promoting physical and mental health to enhance their overall quality of life.
Our food services at Oxa Care are designed to provide residents with nutritious and delicious meals, ensuring a pleasurable dining experience.
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Hear from our residents and family members
Dorothy McPhan
Family member
Why choose Oxa Care
Entering aged care can be a vulnerable step for even the most confident and independent residents. It takes time for residents to fully settle in and build strong relationships with their caregivers. For over three decades now, we’ve earned the trust and confidence of our residents by delivering on our promises of personalised and personal care. Our residents deserve to live with dignity and support so that they can meet the challenges and joys of ageing with grace. We’re proud to do our part to help.
Community is everything
We’ve fostered a supportive and welcoming community where every resident feels safe and supported.
Personalised care
The key to effective aged care is communication. We work transparently with our residents and their families and chosen medical specialists.
How to pay for aged care at Oxa Care
Financial discussions are always a point of anxiety. Allow us to make things clear and simple. Our aged care payment options include Refundable Accommodation Deposits (RADs), Daily Accommodation Payments (DAPs) or a combination of both. A RAD is a lump sum paid at the start of your residence, and the DAP is a daily payment. You can use our handy sliding scale to discern the most economical combination of RAD and DAP payments. If you’d like more advice, don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Book a Tour
If you’d like to see our residential aged care facilities for yourself, we’ll gladly introduce you to our staff and residents, and tour you through our state-of-the-art amenities. You may even be able to see our pet therapy teams in action!
Frequently asked questions
Here’s more information about what you can expect from our nursing home pet therapy programs.
The physical benefits of animal-assisted therapy are similar to those of regular exercise. Residents quickly lose track of how hard they’re exercising since they’re so focused on the fun they’re having. Physical benefits include:
- Improved strength
- Improved balance
- Improved fine motor skills
- Physical confidence and independence
- Cardiovascular endurance
- Lowered cholesterol
- Lowered blood pressure
The cognitive benefits of pet therapy are just as extensive. They include:
- Improved self-confidence
- Lowered level of depression, stress and anxiety
- Socialisation
- Improved memory recall
- Improved communication skills
- Improved sense of purpose
We use several types of animals during our pet therapy sessions. We vary the animals used to keep our residents engaged, but we also select them to account for our residents’ needs. These include their allergies, preference for species, mobility, and even the relationships they form with specific animals.
Types of therapy we offer include:
- Dog assisted therapy
- Cat assisted therapy
- Horse assisted therapy
Animal-assisted therapy works wonders for our dementia patients
Studies have shown that animal-assisted therapy offers significant benefits for dementia patients. The confusion dementia induces brings with it pervasive feelings of anxiety and depression. The inability to communicate can leave patients feeling isolated and frustrated. All of these can be alleviated with structured pet therapy.
Playing with specially trained animals (under diligent guidance) offers dementia patients a safe yet mentally stimulating activity. It encourages communication, focus and memory recall. Studies have shown a 50% improvement in mental health.
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Contact us
Our lines are open 24/7. Feel free to contact us at your convenience.
News, guides and explainers
Browse our aged care articles and read stories from people living at our Epping aged care facility.
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How Pets Can Improve Mental Health in Aged Care
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