Relationships Between Pets & Seniors is Important

Posted by Donna Mae Scheib on February 02, 2018

Relationships Between Pets & Seniors is Important

Pets can often feel like family. These furry, loving creatures are an important part of our homes, our relationships, and our happiness. But for seniors, pets can often be the only real companions they have, providing comfort and love in their golden years. Unfortunately, not all senior living communities embrace the idea of pets in their facilities. After all, they can be messy, loud, and difficult to care for. Catering to pets and seniors can be challenging for senior living communities - but if done well, the reward can be great.

Benefits of Pets and Seniors

In the past, moving into a senior living community meant leaving behind a beloved pet. This can be painful and cause depression during a time when there are already numerous life changes occurring. Over time, senior living communities started to recognize this loss and began to take measures to integrate pets into their facilities.

Being around a pet can have a profound impact on a senior’s health and well-being. Interacting with a pet can have a calming effect on seniors. This is because being around pets produces a chemical chain reaction in the brain: the stress hormone cortisol lowers and the feel-good hormone serotonin increases. In addition, pets have been shown to reduce blood pressure, lower cholesterol, fight depression, and protect against heart disease!

Another fascinating effect pets can have on seniors is that they give seniors a reason to stay active and engaged in life. When a senior must care for a dog or cat, they often have a renewed sense of purpose that is often accompanied by increased physical activity. Perhaps they must walk their dog several times a day or change the litter box regularly. Caring for a pet is a responsibility that is often relished after retirement.

Pet Therapy’s Impact on Dementia

Pet therapy has been proven to significantly improve Sundowners Syndrome in seniors with dementia. Pets can be soothing for seniors who are having difficulty with verbal communication and with memory loss. They can help soothe them in ways that humans can’t seem to. In addition, pets can invoke old memories of a better time. This can be comforting and can help seniors with dementia deal with the unknowing world they currently find themselves in.

Difficulties of Pets in Senior Living Communities

Despite the numerous benefits of having pets and seniors together in a senior living community, there are numerous drawbacks. These difficulties are problematic for senior living centers and can prevent them from having a pro-pet policy in place. One of those difficulties is the unintentional neglect pets may experience. When seniors begin to struggle with the physical and mental limitations of aging, pets can suddenly become unintentionally neglected. They may forget to feed them or forget their medicine. They may be unable to walk them or let them outside for exercise. Senior living communities that offer assistance with pet care can help their seniors reap the benefits of owning a pet in their golden years while ensuring the pet’s protection.

Finding the Right Pet-Friendly Senior Living Community

If your loved one would benefit from having a pet, it is important to find a pet-friendly community for them. Each year more and more senior living communities are embracing the idea of pets in their facilities. Some will accept them provided the pets are small or under 20 lbs. Others take only certain types of pets. Doing research to help determine what types of pets and pet services offered is critical to finding the right community for your loved one. Some senior living communities offer:

• Pet coordinators
• Dog grooming services
• Dog walking services
• Cat litter cleaning
• Cage cleaning for small pets
• Veterinary services
• And more

A Senior Living Community Can Help

If you are looking for a pet-friendly senior care facility for your loved one, we can help. You can find the perfect pet-friendly senior living community near you on Senior Living Link. Our online assisted living community directory features facilities nationwide that offer an array of pet care services. Start your search today and contact Senior Living Link to learn more!