Research has shown that seniors benefit physically and mentally from having an animal companion.
Sure, adopting a homeless animal will improve his or her life, but did you know that an animal companion can improve your life, too? And we’re not just talking about rescued animals who have literally returned the favor and rescued their adopters. According to Alan Beck, director of the Center for the Human-Animal Bond at Purdue University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, there are many physical and emotional benefits to sharing one’s home with an animal companion, especially for seniors, including the following:
- They give your day structure: Gerontologists have found that animals help orient a person’s day, especially people who live alone. Preparing your animal companion’s meals, scooping the litter pan, and taking your dog for walks keeps you on schedule and helps you remember to tend to your own needs, too.
- They protect your heart: Research shows that stroking an animal lowers a person’s blood pressure. Even the simple act of nurturing another living being can help you relax psychologically and physically.
- They keep you moving: Animal companions force us to get off the couch and out into the world, instead of sitting in the recliner and watching TV all day. Dogs, like humans, need exercise to stay healthy mentally and physically, so multiple walks and “play dates” every day are vital. Even cats like to play with interactive toys that require your participation.
- They help you stay sharp: Having an animal companion who relies on you for his or her basic needs helps you focus and increase concentration. According to Beck’s research, having animals in nursing homes helped hold Alzheimer patients’ interest while they were eating and helped ensure that they finished their meals.
- They help you make new friends: Studies have shown that people are more likely to engage in conversation with others if they are out walking a dog. People open up to animals, and animals also give people something to talk about.
If you have the time, resources, and patience to make a lifetime commitment to an animal, you can make an enormous difference by adopting one from a shelter. Some shelters even offer a discounted adoption fee for senior citizens. Do consider adopting a senior animal: They are often more suited to a senior human’s lifestyle, and adult animals are harder to place in responsible homes. How do your companion animals impact your life?
Written by Kimberly Walls
