Dealing with retirement, debilitating illness, moving into an
assisted care facility, losing spouses and lifelong friends. These
are many of the challenges facing older people every day. Pets can
provide valuable love and support during our later years.
Pets help widows and widowers cope with
grief. In a revealing study, it was shown that pet owners were less
likely to cry as often several months after bereavement than
non-owners. Owners also often confided in their pets to help
release sad feelings when sharing them with other people felt too
uncomfortable.
When a cat and an older person come together,
the benefits for both are incredible. Feelings of loneliness, worry
and isolation decrease dramatically. Physically, cats are not very
demanding and owning one improves mental stability and brings true
comfort in times of need.
Older people form incredibly strong bonds with their cats. For the
owner, it gives them a keen sense of nurturing and brings meaning
to their daily activities - important considerations which may
further reduce the effects of depression, anxiety and
loneliness.
Australia has a rich history of fostering
human-animal interactions. Organisations such as the AWL (Animal
Welfare League) promote the roles animals play in people's health
and well-being whilst other programs encourage volunteers and their
pets to visit institutions where contact with a dog or cat could
possibly enhance the quality of life for people in nursing homes,
prisons, children's and adult hospitals, mental health units,
hospices, day care centres, rehabilitation units and schools.
Pets who visit or reside in nursing homes
make wonderful social workers. Pet visiting programs also mean that
many isolated elderly people (who perhaps once owned pets) are now
able to pat, love and talk to cats and dogs on a regular basis. It
decreases their blood pressure and increases their sense of joy and
wellbeing. Nurses even report that residents who interact regularly
with pets require less attention if there is a pet around to be
loved and enjoyed whilst also:
- Alleviating loneliness and depression
- Providing activity and exercise
- Reducing grief when a loved one passes away
Here are some of the things to consider when
buying a dog for an older person. They should be:
- Smaller and not too boisterous
- Light enough to jump onto his or her owner's lap and bed for
cuddles
- Able to self-exercise and is not prone to obesity
- A smooth, short haired breed that's easy to groom
- Well-trained - so they know when to get out of the way and can
handle noises and unusual situations
The OPTIMUM® Pet Selector
can also assist you in finding a suitable pet for your elderly
family member or friend, click here to use the cat
selector or click here to use the dog selector.