How Pets Positively Affect Seniors

Owning a pet is a wonderful experience, regardless of your age. This is, in many cases, especially true for senior citizens. Older people tend to benefit greatly from pet ownership. Whether you are a senior citizen yourself or thinking about adopting a pet for one of your loved ones, the information in this guide is sure to be helpful to you.

Psychological Benefits

A pet provides companionship for older people who may live alone and lack social contact. Animals can be excellent friends, exuding happiness whenever they see their owners. This lifts people’s spirits tremendously, leading to increased happiness and feelings of fulfillment.

Furthermore, studies have shown that pets can even lengthen the lives of senior citizens by giving them added purpose. When someone has a beloved animal relying on his or her care, it can add years to his or her life.

Physical Benefits

When a person has a pet, he or she must care for the animal; this requires bringing her to the vet, taking her for walks, and making sure she gets to play and romp. Due to this, senior citizens who are pet owners tend to be more physically active and, therefore, healthier than those who do not have animals in their homes.

Even walking a pet for just 15 to 20 minutes per day can positively impact the health of an aging person. Physical activity is an important part of longevity and quality of life, and animals have a way of helping their owners remain physically fit no matter how old they are.

If you’re getting a new dog, cat or other pet for yourself or someone you love, it’s important to do your research first. In many cases, older rescue dogs that are already trained are a great fit for seniors. When it comes to puppies, there are certain breeds that are less rambunctious than others; Labradors, for instance, tend to be loyal and even-tempered.

At New Horizons at Marlborough, we are happy to announce we are pet-friendly. Contact us to book a tour of our assisted living and independent living community.