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A dog named Seamus brought some furry comfort to seniors this month at a nonprofit healthcare facility in Livermore as part of an animal-assisted therapy event.
Hosted at the Center for Elders’ Independence PACE Tri-Valley, Seamus’ visit May 12 coincided with Mental Health Awareness Month, a nationwide initiative to destigmatize mental illness.
The reoccurring therapy sessions are among the site’s programming aimed at supporting seniors’ overall wellbeing.
“A lot of times they’re isolated, and they have no interaction with other people, or very little, and so pets provide that interaction with a living being,” CEI Director of Behavioral Health Alicia English said of CEI seniors.
At the root of CEI is a mission to support East Bay seniors’ independence at multiple locations across the region, the organization website states. CEI offers medical and social services, including those for mental wellness.
About 14% of adults ages 70 years old and above have a mental disorder, with the most common conditions being anxiety and depression, according to a fact sheet prepared by the World Health Organization in October 2025.
Social isolation and loneliness are among the top risk factors for developing a mental health condition in older adulthood, the fact sheet states.
“A lot of people in our society are struggling with mental health and it shouldn’t be a shameful thing,” English said. “There’s treatment for it.”
As for animals’ role, these companions are shown to improve people’s wellbeing, according to English.
“Pets can decrease people’s blood pressure and cortisol levels and create some peace,” English explained.
During the pet-assisted therapy sessions, attendees have a chance to interact with or simply enjoy the company of an animal that they might not otherwise have at home, she added.
The session May 12 was possible thanks to a partnership with the Valley Humane Society, which operates the Canine Comfort Pet-Assisted Therapy program.
