Owning a pet has many obvious benefits like having a constant companion, limitless affection, and unconditional love. There’s no doubt that being a pet parent can be a great joy. And, whether the pet is two-legged, four-legged, feathered, furry, or finned, having an animal companion can make proven positive effects on senior’s lives.
1. Physical Health
People who own a dog walk an average of 22 minutes more a day than people who don’t have a dog according to research from the BMC Public Health Journal. Regular walks are considered moderate or vigorous exercise according to federal standards. Lifting, grooming, and even petting can contribute to increased daily exercise. And, beyond physical exercise, owning a pet has been found to lower cortisol, lower blood pressure, and lower the risk of depression.
2. Socialization
Walking a dog or taking them to a dog park opens seniors to more opportunities to talk to other humans. Many people pass others by without communicating, but a cute dog can be a conversation starter, giving seniors some needed social interactions. This is a great way for seniors to get to know their neighbors and build connections.
3. Emotional
For seniors who live alone, pets can provide much needed companionship and combat loneliness and isolation. Pets make their owners feel needed by providing a constant presence, comfort, and unconditional love with little to no demands. Caring for a pet can also give seniors a sense of purpose, giving them a reason to get up each day to meet the needs of another living thing. Dogs and cats can give seniors a sense of security and protection as well. A barking dog can deter an intruder and a cat becoming alert can help alert seniors to unfamiliar noises. Pets have also been found to alleviate depression by staying a companion if when the owner may withdraw from loved ones. Pets have such a positive effect on depression that animal-assisted therapy is now recognized by the National Institute of Mental Health as a treatment for depression and other mood disorders.
4. Lower Stress
Many studies have found that being around animals can decrease cortisol, a stress hormone. It was also found in a study of stockbrokers who had a cat or dog, that having an animal helped lower blood pressure spikes caused by stress. A study involving cat owners found that people who have cats as pets are 40% less likely to have a fatal heart attack, the study was only done on cat owners but it’s possible that dogs have similar benefits.
5. Brain Health
For elderly people with cognitive impairment, contact with pets can spark memories and some people who have suffered a stroke or dementia have been inspired to smile or even unexpectedly talk around animals. And the normal everyday care of a pet requires attention to detail and memory skills.
Tips for older pet owners
Seniors need to consider a few things before they get a pet, since it is a commitment and requires responsibility for the life of a creature. Be sure to review the seniors budget, can they afford a pet or will they have someone who can help out with the expenses? Maybe they need a low-maintenance pet like a fish to keep costs low. For seniors with mobility issues, it needs to be considered if taking a dog for a walk is something that they can handle. It might be as simple as choosing a small dog, or finding a pet that doesn’t require walking like a cat, a bird, or a fish. Placement of toys, food bowls, and bedding needs to be taken into account so that it doesn’t present a tripping hazard.
And as unpleasant it is to think about, is there a backup plan for the pet? What will happen if the senior has something unexpected happen? It’s a good idea to have a plan in place for the pet incase the senior has to go to the hospital, move to a long-term care community, or any other possible situation. Having an incase-of-emergency plan can prevent your beloved pet from being placed in a shelter.
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For more information on our home health services offering, please contact us today at (888) 503-5879 or visit our website at https://www.superiorseniorcare.com/our-services/
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References:
Dog Owners Walk 22 Minutes More Per Day. And Yes, It Counts As Exercise
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