Senior Citizens and Pets

For senior citizens living alone or in nursing homes, a pet can provide comfort and companionship unmatched by human relationships. They can enrich the quality of life for those suffering from loneliness, depression, or physical ailments. Pets offer unconditional love, loving us regardless of what we wear, what kind of car we drive, or how much money we have. Eager to please us, it doesn't matter to them if we can't walk or have to use a wheelchair.

Especially for the elderly who have lost a beloved spouse, a pet can be a source of mutual affection that they can cuddle and talk to. Pet can help senior citizens overcome depression, to start caring about the world around them, and adapt to the changing circumstances of their lives by distracting them from their troubles.

A pet may enrich the physical health of the elderly by encouraging them toward physical exercise which will increase their mobility and the ability to care for themselves. Relaxing with a pet can lower blood pressure, decrease the need for pain medications, and reduce post-operative pain.

Quite often senior citizens will consider having a pet more important than moving to a more convenient place to live where pets aren't allowed. Many nursing homes have mascot pets or will allow the seniors' own pets to come for a visit, and all states now allow pets in nursing homes. Having a dog or cat mascot in a nursing home has as many benefits as if the residents had their own pets. The elderly residents may reminisce about pets that they had as children and begin to communicate and interact more readily with the other residents and staff members, and become more receptive to necessary medical treatments