Why Animals Benefit The Elderly

Assisted Living Petting Zoo Snake

Alternative therapies and helps of all kinds are being researched and used on a trial basis all across the country in the care of our elderly citizens.  Especially in the care of those with Alzheimer's and other types of dementias.  In speaking with health care practitioners, we find a number of therapies that might seem logical, clinical and sterile. We will also find just as many that are difficult to explain, but seem to have very consistent and very promising results.  One of these therapies is the use of animals with patients.  But why would an animal be able to help an elderly person, especially one that is struggling greatly with memory problems?

Fulfill the Need for Companionship

We all have a need for companionship, and as we age that need is amplified by the circumstances around us.  The older we are, the fewer friends and family might still be alive. We're many times bound by physical problems, keeping us closer to our home and neighborhood.  We may not have the skills to communicate using some of the newer technology that many of the younger generation seem to use for all of their communication. (Have you posted your latest Tik-Tok?)  Animals can help us bridge the companionship gap.  They are obviously not able to fully fill the void left by healthy human companionship.  But our animal friends make help immensely by making us feel comfortable and calm, completely lacking in judgment and criticism & for being loyal.

Increase our General Health

Studies have been done that show the effects of having an aquarium in elder care facilities.  They can help lower blood pressure as well as anxiety levels of those who watch them.  Having dogs, cats and birds around can also provide a similar benefit, provided they are generally calm animals.

 

 

Keep Speaking Skills Sharp

This one may seem silly, but caring for animals really can help with the upkeep of our communication skills.  People generally talk to the animals that they live with.  Some people tell them about their day, or comment on their surrounding for them.  Having an animal around can help keep communication skills sharp.  It can also aid in giving an elderly person something to communicate about to others.  If a neighbor comes to visit, the animal can quickly become the subject of conversation that would help to span other potentially silent moments during the visit.

Children Love Animals, Children Benefit the Elderly

We all know that animals will draw and keep the attention of children.  And there are definitely benefits to the elderly of having children around.  Children add life and vitality to otherwise dull and slow days.  Having an animal in the home or assisted living facility with elderly residents can make the place much more inviting and natural feeling for children to visit.  If they feel as if it's inviting, they'll be more likely to come back for a visit.

Caring for a Pet (and Others) is Good for Us

We all know that animals require care, some more than others.  Much of that care can be carried out by a responsible elderly person.  There may be a bit that they need help with, especially if their memory issues are getting worsening.  In these cases, it's especially important to have someone double check that the animals have been fed or watered. But, the care for an animal is a good way to keep us outward looking rather than inward looking all of the time.  It can be a tendency for some aging individuals to only be focused upon what is going on within their world.  At times neglecting anyone or anything around them.  Caring for a pet helps to alleviate this tendency and helps us to remember that we are responsible for others, as well.  Caring for plants or gardening helps in a similar manner.

Animals can benefit nearly everyone in some way, but especially the elderly.  We do not need to understand all of the science behind why it works to enjoy those benefits.  We are just glad that it DOES work!

Therapy Animals For Seniors

Have you noticed how prevalent it is to see animals inside of stores & other venues where they wouldn't have been allowed before?  Young and old, disabled & seemingly healthy people have these companions with them these days for both physical help, as well as emotional support.

Spending time with animals has been shown to have health benefits for those people who are able to have them in their lives.  Dogs are the animals that are most often studied, but many other animals can be used for emergency service animals.

In most states in the U.S., you'll need to get a special license to have the animals with you at all times if it's deemed necessary.  But for the elderly, most of the benefits can be reaped without going through a licensing process.  Seniors and elderly can find great solace in having a pet around to talk to.  This alone can be enough to ward off depression & loneliness that can be common in the aging.  Companionship with an animal can decrease stress and increase serotonin levels in the brain, making you feel calmer & happier.

Taking Fido for a regular walk can also help seniors to stay active & keep their heart  healthy.  A simple, but regular routine of light exercise like this can be greatly beneficial to the caregiver of the animal, as well as increasing the likelihood of engagement in the community and in nature which will also decrease stress & possibly broaden their support network as they meet new people.

If the person is traumatized by some event in the past, or if they are full of anxiety, as is often the case with Alzheimer's disease, the animal can be a consistent aid in calming them down.

Lastly, if the animal is needed for a specific purpose, like help with vision, the animal can be a life-saving choice.  Many people use animals in this way so that they can function more normally with greater independence and safety than would otherwise be possible.

It doesn't matter how you look at it, the animals that become companions to the elderly may be a bit of work, but their value far outweighs the trouble of keeping them when one sees the emotional and physical benefits.  Some animals are more suited to particular tasks than others, so be sure to do your research before jumping in with both feet, but consider the improvements that you may see with the small lifestyle change of adding an animal into their lives.  All the small things can add up to a much longer, happier & healthier life for the loved ones we care for!

5 Ways Animals Benefit The Elderly

 Alternative therapies & helps of all kinds are being researched and used on a trial basis all across the country in the care of our elderly citizens, and especially in the care of those with Alzheimer's & different dementias.  In speaking with health care practitioners, you will find a number of therapies that might seem logical, clinical & sterile. You will also find just as many that are difficult to explain, but seem to have very consistent and very promising results.  One of these therapies would be the use of animals with patients.  But why would an animal be able to help an elderly person, especially one that is struggling greatly with memory problems?

 

  1. We all have a need for companionship, but as we age, the need is amplified by the circumstances around us.  Our friends and family being to pass away. We're often bound by physical problems to stay in our own home or neighborhood.  We may not have the skills to communicate using some of the newer technology that many of the younger generation seem to use for all of their communication.  Animals can help to bridge that gap.  They are obviously not able to fully fill the void left by human companionship, but they make a beginning by making us feel comfortable and calm, completely lacking in judgment and criticism & for being loyal.
  2.   Studies have been done that show the effects of having an aquarium in elder care facilities.  They can help by lowering blood pressure & anxiety levels of those who watch them.  Having dogs, cats & birds around can also have a similar outcome, provided they are generally calm animals.
  3. This one may seem silly to some of us, but it really can help with the upkeep of communication.  People generally talk to the animals that they live with.  Some people tell them about their day, or comment on their surrounding for them.  Having an animal around can help keep communication skills sharp.  It can also aid in giving an elderly person something to communicate about to others.  If a neighbor comes to visit, the animal can quickly become a subject of conversation that would help to span other potentially silent moments during the visit.
  4. We all know that animals will draw children.  There are definitely benefits to the elderly of having children around.  They add life & vitality to otherwise dull days.  Having an animal in the home or facility with elderly patients can make the place much more inviting & much more natural feeling for children to visit.  If they feel as if it's inviting, they'll be more likely to come back for a visit.
  5. We all know that animals require care. Much of that care can be carried out by the responsible elderly patient.  There may be a bit that they need help with, & if their memory issues are getting more intense, it's especially important to have someone double check that they've fed or watered the animal, etc. But, the care for an animal is a good way to keep them outward looking rather than inward looking all of the time.  It can be a tendency for some aging individuals to only be concerned with what is going on within their world to the neglect of anyone or anything around them.  This helps to alleviate that a bit & help them to remember that they are responsible for others, as well.

 

Animals can benefit nearly everyone in some way, but especially the elderly.  We do not need to understand all of the science behind why it works to enjoy those benefits.  We are just glad that it DOES work!