The sound of tiny paws pattering across the floor mingles with soft laughter and delighted murmurs at The Village Langley, British Columbia’s innovative dementia care community. Here, an unconventional therapy program involving foster kittens is creating remarkable moments of connection for residents living with memory challenges.
“The transformation is immediate and profound,” explains Adrienne Alford-Burt, Executive Director at The Village. “Residents who might be withdrawn or agitated become completely present and engaged when holding these kittens. We’re witnessing memories resurface and communication barriers dissolve.”
The innovative program, developed in partnership with the Langley Animal Protection Society (LAPS), brings young foster kittens to the specialized dementia care facility several times each month. These feline visitors have become an integral component of the community’s person-centered approach to memory care.
What makes this initiative particularly valuable is its mutual benefit. While residents experience therapeutic connections, the kittens receive crucial socialization and care before finding permanent homes. This symbiotic relationship highlights how intergenerational connections—even across species—can create meaningful experiences for vulnerable populations.
“We’ve documented significant decreases in anxiety and agitation following these visits,” notes Dr. Elroy Jespersen, the Village’s development lead with Verve Senior Living. “For individuals living with dementia, emotional connections often remain intact even as cognitive abilities change. These kittens provide tactile stimulation and emotional engagement that medication simply cannot replicate.”
The CO24 News team observed firsthand how residents’ faces lit up during a recent kitten therapy session. One gentleman who rarely speaks suddenly began sharing stories about cats he had owned decades earlier, while another resident who struggles with restlessness remained peacefully seated for nearly an hour, gently stroking a sleeping kitten.
Research published in the Canadian Journal of Aging has demonstrated that animal-assisted therapy can significantly reduce depression symptoms and improve quality of life for individuals with dementia. The Village’s approach takes this concept further by integrating it into their household model, where residents live in small, home-like environments designed to maximize independence and dignity.
“What’s particularly beautiful about the kitten program is how it creates moments of joy in the present,” explains Catharine Haywood-Farmer, the Village’s recreation coordinator. “Dementia care often focuses on managing decline, but these interactions remind us that meaningful connections remain possible at every stage of the journey.”
The success of this program raises important questions about innovative approaches to eldercare across Canada. As our population ages and dementia rates increase, could animal therapy programs become standard practice in care settings nationwide? The evidence from The Village certainly suggests that sometimes the most effective therapies come in the smallest packages.
As we consider the future of dementia care in our society, perhaps we should ask ourselves: How might we further embrace these creative, connection-based approaches that honor the emotional lives of our elders, even as their memories fade?
