Having a pet isn’t just fun for seniors—it can actually benefit your health. There is evidence that people age better when they interact with animals.
“Scientifically documented benefits of human-animal bonding include lowered blood pressure, reduced anxiety, and increased sense of well-being,” reports the Human Animal Relationship Research Institute (HABRI). “Positive human-animal interaction appears to be associated with changes in physiological variables in both humans and animals, particularly dogs.”
Darlene Klotz, 71, of Florence, Miss., agrees. She got a new dog, Molly, an eight-year-old schnauzer mix, a year ago – after she was first rejected from a shelter.
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“Molly is spoiled and perfect for us,” says Klotz. She and her husband had lost an older dog, but still had a 16-year-old Maltese, and she wanted a companion for him and them. Their new dog, Molly, fills that role, and Nelson, the Maltese, helps take care of her.
“I’m not dead yet,” Klotz said. “I still want my dogs.” And they help her outlook on life, she says. “She’s just perfect for us. We are getting older and wanted a smaller dog and she is very much loved in our home.”
NEWS (opens in new tab) research shows that human-animal bonding can reduce blood pressure and heart-respiratory rates.
Calm and focus
The presence of a pet can increase your body’s production of the so-called love hormone, oxytocin, causing physiological changes that include lowering blood pressure, inhibiting stress hormones and creating a sense of calm and concentration, according to HABRI research .
Oxytocin helps women give birth, but the body also produces it when you’re excited by a sexual partner or fall in love, reports Stephanie Watson, executive editor of Harvard Women’s Health Watch (opens in new tab). “Just the simple touch seems to increase the release of oxytocin.”
Other research has found that long-term pet ownership can help cognitive skills remain high as we age, slowing the decline of verbal memory. A study conducted by the University of Florida, the University of Michigan and the University of Virginia (opens in new tab) found that cognitive scores decline more slowly in pet owners, especially those with long-term ownership.
Additionally, researchers at the University of Michigan found that pet ownership is associated with positive mental health. Researchers asked 14 pet owners over the age of 65 how they thought pet ownership affected their mental health. Four themes emerged: comfort and safety; social inclusion and participation; purposeful routine and structure; and plays a significant role. In other words, pet ownership can not only give the elderly company, but it can also reduce loneliness and increase socialization among the elderly.
Owning pets can take seniors’ minds off pain, helping them better cope with physical and emotional issues.
“Pets can also reduce feelings of depression and improve feelings of well-being, leading to an overall improvement in quality of life,” says Vicki Stevens, director of program management and communications, companion animals, at the Humane Society of the United States. .
Choosing a pet
Which pet to choose depends on the individual, Stevens says. While dogs are mentioned most often, the choice also includes cats, birds or other pets.
“Some older people are really healthy and active and can do best with a healthy and active dog. If they are less mobile, they may do better with an older or less active pet.
The Humane Society recommends that you always adopt a cat or dog from a shelter or rescue group, or find a suitable pet through a friend or family member.
“If you adopt from a shelter or rescue, these volunteers or workers will know the pets, interview you, understand your lifestyle and find you a pet that will work best for you,” says Stevens.
There are challenges
In addition to finding the perfect companion, there are some challenges to consider when adopting a pet. For example, with rental housing, it’s not always easy to find a place that accepts certain breeds or larger dogs. There is also a problem for some who may no longer drive. Pets need veterinary care every year, sometimes more often, depending on health problems. If you’re traveling, plan to use a pet-sitting service.
The Humane Society has a program called “Pets and People Together” (opens in new tab) to inspire people in the community to help seniors with pets. People are encouraged to donate to a pet food pantry, offer to walk an adult’s dog once or twice a week, or provide a ride to the vet’s office.
Things to keep in mind
Susan Kurowski, Executive Director of Pets for seniorssays her organization has a dual mission — to provide shelter homes for animals and companionship for people 60 and older.
Pets for the Elderly, based in Cleveland, works with 56 shelters in 32 states across the country, according to its website, offering senior discounts, helping costs of owning a petincluding vet visits and helping people save their pets when they are struggling.
There’s no income requirement to get the senior discount for a shelter adoption, she says.
They rely on shelters to properly counsel seniors looking for a pet. “Our guideline is not to interfere with their standards, but we expect them to use common sense and not put a puppy bordering a 92-year-old who uses a walker,” says Kurowski. “Think about your life situation. If you own a home, do you have a fenced yard? If you rent, would your landlord approve of adopting a pet?’
If your pet outlives you
Best Friends Animal Society.a Utah-based national nonprofit that works to save pets from dying in shelters offers some advice on estate planning for petsor how to make plans for pets when their owner dies so they don’t end up dumped in a shelter.
- Ask family or friends to act as emergency caregivers, but also make a permanent plan.
- Keep emergency contact information in a wallet or other place that will be easy to find.
- Contact a cat or dog sanctuary and make an estate plan.mpty list
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals also recommends considering a pet trust, a legally sanctioned arrangement that provides for the care and support of one or more pets when an owner becomes disabled or dies.
Estate planning can include organizations such as Blue Bell Foundation for Cats in Laguna Beach, California, who is asking for $10,000 to take an elderly pet into permanent care after its owner dies.
It’s very important to plan ahead, says Susan Hamill, CEO of Blue Bell. “We only do senior cats and have limited space. People who have an estate plan get first dibs. Others are taken subject to availability.’
Before you get a pet, talk to yourself about why you want the animal and whether you have the ability to care for it, says Susan Kurowski of Pets for the Elderly. “You have to be committed because it’s definitely a commitment.”