Care Home Visit – Emotional Wellbeing Outcome

During a recent Pause With Paws visit to a care home, we supported a new floor for the first time and noticed a resident sitting alone on a sofa.

She shared that she had never owned a dog before and felt unsure, as she had only ever had cats. We spent time simply talking with her, allowing the interaction to develop naturally.

Without any direction, the dogs calmly approached and lay beside her on the sofa. She began gently stroking them and visibly relaxed as the session progressed. It was so beautiful to see.

By the end of the visit, she became emotional and shared that she felt deeply comforted. She walked us down the corridor as we left, waving goodbye and expressing that she did not want the session to end.

This interaction highlights the power of animal-assisted wellbeing in reducing loneliness, supporting emotional connection, and providing meaningful moments for individuals in care settings.

We can’t wait to visit again.