Did you know having a pet can drastically boost a senior’s health? It turns out that a furry friend can do more than just be adorable. Research published in Anthrozoös found that keeping pets has multiple benefits for senior owners. Something as simple as adopting a senior cat or a puppy can boost your aging loved one’s physical, mental, and emotional health in the following ways.
1.Offer Valuable Companionship
Many seniors experience loneliness after losing social connections. Having a pet at home all day can be a great way to reduce this isolation. A pet gives a senior someone to chat with and play with. Being able to shower a pet with love and get plenty of affection in return can greatly boost emotional health, and this can further help a senior’s overall health by reducing stress and depression.
Owning a pet is just one of the many ways seniors can enjoy socialization and prevent isolation. Not every senior has the same care needs, which means they don’t all need the same type of home care. You can rely on Home Care Assistance to provide individualized care plans to meet your elderly loved one’s unique care needs. Our holistic Balanced Care Method was designed to help seniors focus on healthy lifestyle habits such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining strong social ties, and our Cognitive Therapeutics Method offers mentally stimulating activities that can stave off cognitive decline and delay the onset of dementia.
3.Provide Motivation
Pets have the incredibly valuable ability to motivate people to care for themselves. Out of love for their furry friends, people often start paying more attention to their own wellbeing. Having an innocent creature depending on your parent for love and safety can make him or her feel a sense of responsibility and motivation, which may encourage him or her to adopt healthier lifestyle habits and provide the willpower to work on recovering from injuries and illnesses. Motivation can also help some people out of cycles of depression and anxiety.
3.Encourage More Physical Activity
Depending on the type of pet your loved one gets, it can even boost his or her physical health in more direct ways. Seniors who have dogs or high-energy cats may find they need to regularly go on walks or have play sessions with their pets, which encourages them to get off the couch, walk, and move around more. Getting regular physical activity provides several health benefits, including boosting cardiovascular health and enhancing mobility.
Aging in place can present a few unique challenges for older adults. Some only require part-time assistance with exercise or meal preparation, while others are living with serious illnesses and benefit more significantly from receiving 24-hour care. Huntsville, AL, Home Care Assistance are leaders in the elderly in-home care industry for good reason. We tailor our care plans based on each senior’s individual needs, our caregivers continue to receive updated training in senior care as new developments arise, and we also offer comprehensive care for seniors with Alzheimer’s, dementia, and Parkinson’s.
4. Provide a Sense of Security
For seniors who live on their own, dogs can ease some of their fears about their safety. A dog can be trained to bark at strangers, alerting your loved one to unwanted guests. Some seniors also find comfort in the idea that a barking dog may alert their neighbors if they become incapacitated. Just having a pet around can reduce fears and alleviate anxiety.5.
5.Help Seniors Follow Daily Routines
When seniors hve pets, they have to make time each day to feed them, give them water, take care of their bathroom needs, and exercise them. For seniors who feel like their retirement years are spent with nothing to do, the daily responsibilities of having a pet can be a welcome routine. It can provide a sense of purpose and encourage your loved one to start each day with energy instead of spending time lying around.
Although owning a pet provides a variety of benefits, some seniors have serious medical issues that prohibit them from being able to care for companion animals. If your senior loved one needs help managing an illness or assistance with daily tasks, make sure you choose a top-rated provider of home care service. Huntsville Home Care Assistance is here to help your loved one live a happier and healthier life in the golden years. From the mentally stimulating activities in our Cognitive Therapeutics Method to our friendly Care Managers who are available to answer your questions 24 hours a day, we offer a wide array of high-quality at-home care services. Reach out to one of our Care Managers today at (256) 716-9940 to scedule a free in-home consultation.