We are Ollie & I Pet Therapy.
We are a brand new company – an emotional and mental well-being service, for residents living in aged care facilities.
We would love to come and meet you and your residents.
Our history
Ally, Ollie and Lucy’s Mum, finished school in 1994 and attended St Patrick’s Business College. For the next 18 years she worked as a Personal Assistant in the legal, financial and construction industries. After being made redundant after 11 years at BT Financial Group, Ally decided to change careers.
Ally’s grandmother suffered dementia and her father-in-law lost his sight after illness and spent 6 months in hospital. Ally provided care to both of them in their later years in their homes, when required.
After sitting down to chat with her mum, who was an aged care nurse for 25 years, Ally decided to gain her Certificate III and worked as an AIN in aged care facilities across the Sutherland Shire and St George areas for over 5 years.
Ollie and Lucy were both born and bred in Cootamundra, a town in the South West Slopes region of New South Wales. Ollie, a red Toy Cavoodle, was born on 28 October 2021. Lucy, an apricot Toy Cavoodle, was born on 23 January 2022. Ollie found his forever home in Sydney’s Southern Suburbs, on Christmas Eve 2021 and Lucy in April 2022.
Our aim
Having witnessed first-hand the memory loss, confusion, withdrawal and anxiety due to ageing and dementia, our aim is to bring joy and happiness to our clients.
Ollie & I will sit with you, chat and make our time with you a happy and memorable experience.
Our services
Ollie & I are available for Group Facility visits or One-on-One visits, Monday to Friday.
We are also aware of the mental and physical strain on nurses and other essential staff at present, due to Covid-19 and other outbreaks. Staff will pause momentarily, smile and feel instantly more at ease as they see Ollie and Lucy walking through the hallways.
As such, we have decided to offer Ollie & I Pet Therapy to staff during their morning tea and lunch breaks to help them relax and reset before heading back to the floor.
The science behind pet therapy
Pet therapy, also known as Animal Assisted Therapy, is a technique that uses animals to interact with seniors to help improve their health and quality of life overall.
Studies show that just 15 minutes with a dog can increase brain activity and serotonin levels in seniors. Serotonin is known as “the feel-good hormone” and plays a crucial role in bodily function as well as our experiences of positive emotions.
Research has shown that individuals living with dementia who may have difficulty using language, animals can be soothing and can even help these individuals speak and articulate themselves when comfortable.
Pets provide an opportunity for non-verbal communication that can help engage those suffering from Alzheimer’s and dementia.
A recent study conducted in Germany involved dogs visiting 17 nursing home residents suffering from dementia. The study found the participants who took part in the animal assisted therapy sessions had improved verbal communication function and greater attentiveness after the completion of the program.
Changes in personal circumstances, side effects of medication, and lifestyle changes can all result in seniors feeling less connected. But there are plenty of things you can do to keep the blues at bay, including cuddling up to a cute and cuddly pet. A study on the effectiveness of animal-assisted therapy measured wellbeing and mood in nursing home residents. The group who had spent time with animals reported feeling ‘enthusiastic’, ‘interested’ and ‘inspired’ significantly more than those who did not spend time with pets.
Pets also play an important role in helping people recover from loss. Elderly people who had recently lost a spouse fared much better if they had a strong attachment to a pet. They suffered significantly less depression, with their pets providing a powerful buffering effect against grief and stress.
This post was sponsored by Ollie and I Pet Therapy.