Right at Home Australia promoted 'Pet Therapy' for seniors in our Blog on 24th June 2015 and promoted the use of a national organisation called Delta Therapy Dogs whose teams brighten the lives of over 20,000 Australians each week.
Today in Brisbane, as part of Seniors' Week, Seniors Minister Coralee O'Rourke launched the Golden Hearts pet support program, to be delivered by the Animal Welfare League Queensland (AWLQ). It is a new pet program for seniors which will provide older Queenslanders with greater companionship and quality of life by helping them adopt and care for a furry friend.
Minister O'Rourke reiterated the well-known facts that owning a pet has many positive effects on the physical, emotional and social well-being and that pets can provide great companionship, promote social interaction and help keep their owners active and involved.
Minister O' Rourke also explained that the Golden Hearts pet support program will help seniors adopt and care for their pet, so they can be confident about getting the benefits of a four-legged friend without the burden. AWLQ CEO Denise Bradley, further explained that the Golden Hearts would encourage the elderly to adopt a pet with confidence knowing the AWLQ would care for their animal should they need help.
Golden Hearts will help with emergency accommodation, veterinary discounts and will assist the owner if they are no longer able to care for their pet.
"Research indicates that people over the age of 65 are the least likely age group to own a pet yet in many ways are the age group that has the most to gain from pet ownership" Ms Bradley said.
Mrs O'Rourke said seniors welcomed the new program which was launched during Seniors Week (15-23 August).
"Seniors Week is a state wide celebration of the valuable contributions older people make in our community, with around 500 events taking place across the state," she said. For more information about Seniors, go to communities.qld.gov.au/communityservices/seniors For information about the AWLQ pet program, visit awlqld.com.au
Right at Home Australia is your local expert for issues related to caring for your loved one and is dedicated to keeping you informed about home care. Right at Home offers in-home care and assistance so your loved one can continue living independently and enjoying a vibrant life. Our caregivers are screened, trained and insured prior to entering your home so you can trust us with the caregiving while you focus on your loved one. To find out more about the health benefits of owning a pet, view our previous blog on Pet Therpay
