For pet owners, it’s no surprise that owning and caring for a pet can have positive effects on your life. But did you know that pet ownership can cause measurable and dramatic improvements in both the physical and mental well-being of older Americans? Outside of simply being a furry friend that entertains them, pets can help improve the health outcomes of the elderly suffering from heart problems, depression, memory loss, and a wide range of other ailments. Today, we will discuss why pet ownership can be a massive boon to the quality of life of your older loved ones, whether they live at home or in an assisted living facility.
Types of Pets For Older Americans
When we talk about raising a pet, the vast majority of people immediately think of either dogs or cats and for good reason. Dogs and cats have both lived and evolved alongside humans for thousands of years to the point where they can feel much closer to us compared to animals like rabbits or fish. When adopting an animal for the purpose of companionship, dogs and cats are the way to go.
If you or a loved one are considering adopting a pet as you age, determine whether you feel capable of providing the basic levels of care for that animal, namely exercise for your dog. Dogs thrive when they are able to get out of the house for daily exercise with their owner. If you are elderly or disabled and unable to walk for extended periods of time, you should consider adopting a cat or finding alternative ways to provide daily walks for your dog, either through a trusted friend, family member, or caregiver.
Benefits of Pet Companionship
Animal lovers know that spending time with a cherished pet feels ‘good,’ but it can be hard to quantify that feeling and make determinations from it. Luckily for us, studies have been conducted that have shown improvements in mental and physical health stemming from pet companionship.
Mental and Emotional Benefits: Aging can lead to a growing sense of isolation, as it can become much harder to travel out into the world to meet friends and family or engage in once-loved hobbies. Even if you are physically capable of leaving the house, retirement causes some elderly Americans to spend more time at home with their newly acquired excess of free time. Owning pets, specifically dogs, provides a boon to social interactions in both of these scenarios. Loving and engaging in play with your pet throughout the day has been shown to decrease feelings of loneliness and provide a greater sense of purpose in the lives of older people. If you own a dog, daily walks offer a much-needed excuse to get out of the house and interact with other dog owners.
Physical Benefits: Playing with your pet with toys or taking daily walks provides an outlet for more physical exertion throughout the day. Still, there are more unexpected physical benefits that pet ownership brings. The simple act of owning and caring for a pet has been shown to lower the blood pressure of pet owners, which can decrease your chance of strokes, heart attacks, and other cardiovascular diseases.
Adopting a pet is a fantastic way for older Americans to develop a new sense of purpose in their life and improve their mental and physical well-being. If you are a senior looking for other ways to provide engagement in your life, consider assisted living! You’ll find a fun and vibrant community of new friends waiting for you.
A Banyan Residence is an assisted living and memory care center located in Venice, Florida.
