Therapy Dog Visits for Aged Care & Seniors
Warm, consistent therapy dog and animal-assisted wellbeing visits for aged care residents and older adults across Melbourne. Kate and Murphy visit residential aged care communities for gentle one-to-one and group interactions centred around companionship, conversation, reminiscence and connection.
Connection, companionship and reminiscence.
Golden Bond visits can create gentle opportunities for conversation, shared memories, social connection and simple enjoyment — including for people living with dementia or experiencing social isolation.
What a Golden Bond aged care visit can look like.
There isn't one right way to connect.
Some visits involve conversation, laughter and plenty of Murphy attention. Others are quieter — a pat, offering a treat, spending some quiet time together, or simply enjoying his company.
We don't arrive with a script for how someone should interact with Murphy. Kate and Murphy follow the resident's lead, creating space for connection to happen naturally, at their own pace.
Real Golden Bond visit footage. Resident privacy has been protected.
Therapy dog visits that meet residents where they are.
A Golden Bond visit doesn't require everyone to participate in the same way. Murphy might spend time with residents in a communal area, visit someone quietly in their room, sit beside a resident for a pat or become the starting point for stories about much-loved dogs from years gone by.
Visits can be particularly meaningful for residents who don't regularly attend group activities, are experiencing social isolation, or simply enjoy the companionship of animals.
For people living with dementia, Kate follows the resident's cues and adapts each interaction to how they are feeling in the moment. Participation is always optional, and Murphy's comfort and choice are protected throughout the visit too.
Individual or group visits.
Visits are tailored to the resident, group and facility. Kate can work with lifestyle teams to plan one-to-one visits, small groups or recurring programs.
Consistency matters.
Residents see the same familiar team — Kate and Murphy — every visit. Recurring bookings can be weekly, fortnightly or monthly.
Flexible visits, planned with your lifestyle team.
Golden Bond works with lifestyle and wellbeing teams to plan visits around residents, routines and the needs of the facility. Sessions can include communal engagement, quieter one-to-one interactions and room visits where appropriate.
New facilities can begin with an introductory visit before deciding whether recurring weekly, fortnightly or monthly visits are the right fit.
What can families and facilities expect from a therapy dog visit?
We’ve created a practical guide covering dementia, mobility, facility visits, safety, participation and what a Golden Bond visit can look like.
Read the aged care guide
About aged care therapy dog visits.
Is a Golden Bond visit the same as pet therapy?
People often use terms such as pet therapy or therapy dog visits when looking for animal visits in aged care. Golden Bond primarily provides animal-assisted wellbeing and social visits, with Kate and Murphy working together to create opportunities for connection, companionship and meaningful engagement. Where structured, goal-directed work is appropriate, it remains within Kate's qualifications and scope. Read more about the terminology.
Do you visit nursing homes and residential aged care facilities?
Yes. Golden Bond provides therapy dog and animal-assisted wellbeing visits for residential aged care communities across Melbourne and surrounding areas, subject to suitability, facility requirements and availability.
Can Murphy visit residents in their rooms?
Where the facility agrees and the environment is suitable, room visits can be included. They can be a lovely option for residents who do not regularly attend group activities or who prefer quieter one-to-one interaction.
Can facilities arrange regular visits?
Yes. Visits can be arranged as one-off sessions or recurring weekly, fortnightly or monthly bookings. Recurring visits mean familiar faces: the same handler-and-dog team, Kate and Murphy.
Ready to work with your facility.
Golden Bond holds Professional Indemnity and Public Liability insurance through Marsh. Kate holds current Working With Children, Police and NDIS Worker Screening checks, and relevant qualifications, therapy-dog certifications, veterinary records and a Certificate of Currency can be provided on request.
Kate brings everything needed for herself and Murphy and can work with your team around site-specific requirements before the visit.
Thinking about a visit?
Planning a visit for a resident or facility? Tell Kate what you're considering and we'll work through the best format together.
Enquire about a visit