VISITING ANGELS LOVES YOUR PETS AS MUCH AS YOU DO
Pets are the perfect prescription for Seniors. They offer companionship and unconditional love which contributes to better health and emotional wellbeing. Research has shown having pets contributes to lower stress, lower blood pressure, and reduced cholesterol and triglyceride levels. In fact just 15 minutes of bonding with an animal sets off a chemical chain reaction in the brain, lowering levels of cortisol, and increasing production of the feel-good hormone serotonin.
If your loved one is feeling isolated and lonely due to the loss of a spouse, friends, or because the family lives far away, a dog, cat, or other pet might be the best medicine. Depression can sneak up on us as we age, so too can anxiety over the future. Pets keep us grounded in the here and now, provide focus, and a sense of meaning and being needed. Walking your dog has demonstrated social, emotional and physical health benefits, and is a popular and frequently recommended activity for many Seniors seeking new ways to stay active.
There are many options to consider:
- Instead of buying a puppy or young cat, look at adopting an older pet who is already trained and house broken.
- A small dog that can use a “pee pad” is a better choice over a larger one that needs walking if your Senior loved one is physically impaired.
- For Seniors with disabilities, a service dog might be the best choice. Service dogs are trained to open doors with a strap, push doors closed, help those in wheelchairs sit up straight, pick up dropped objects and much more. More info here: https://k94life.org/mobility-assistance-dogs/
- Remember that birds and fish count as pets too!
- Robotic dogs and cats are also now an option, read our prior article HERE.
Things to think about:
- Allergies to pets
- Cost for food and care, shots, etc.
- Animal restrictions in the apartment or complex where you live.
Wondering how you are going to care for your “fur”-ever friend as you age in place? Walking a dog provides a valuable outlet for regular, physical activity, however a Penn Medicine study has shown that fractures in Seniors related to walking pets have more than doubled over the last few years in patients 65 and older. Trust Visiting Angels to come to the rescue! We’ll make sure that as we care for you, as part of the daily routine, we’ll make sure your furry friends are fed, walked, and cared for. We’ll love them just as much as you do, and even help you take them to the vet and groomer as well as buy their pet food when shopping for your groceries. After all, our caregivers and companions know first hand what researchers have been saying all along: that pets improve the little things in life and can have a dramatic, positive effect for Seniors at home.
Till Next Time!
Irv Seldin, JD, President and Owner, Visiting Angels of the Palm Beaches
This article is not intended as medical advice.