Pet Companionship for the Elderly

Loneliness seems to be the most serious condition an elderly person can face. With all the research being done to find cures for cancer, loneliness ranks the most highest among the elder population who are widowed or left in nursing homes with no one to come visit or show love towards them. Love is the most important health attribute we have and pets are one of nature's best sources of love.

Animals of all types, especially dogs and cats, help not only the elderly overcome the pain of loneliness, but pets show companionship and affection. For anyone who is consistently left alone, pets can also supply a sense of security and protection. Pets can make one laugh and divert the mind away from troubles. Several studies have shown that pets can aid in relaxation, lower one's blood pressure, promote health, and extend one's life. Pets help us unwind. Pets supply a nurturing quality by ways of affectionate attention. Pets relieve stress and anxiety and anyone who bonds with a pet will confirm the value of a pet.

Of the many elderly people in our population, they have discovered that pets satisfy their needs and encourage them to hold on to the world of reality, of care, of human labor and sacrifice, and of intense emotional relationships. With a pet, elderly people see themselves as worthwhile and their sense of self is restored and enhanced because the love they give a pet is being given back to them.

The Role of Pet Ownership

One of the most distressing life events, death of a spouse, occurs with greatest frequency in older populations. Major events, such as spousal loss, are frequently identified as precipitating factors in loneliness, another potential determinant of physician utilization. In light of these notions, it is reasonable to hypothesize that circumstances that promote well-being or alleviate distress or both could reduce the need for physician contact. One such circumstance is pet ownership. Pets have been reported to provide companionship, an aid to health and relaxation, protection, and nonjudgmental acceptance and love.