When people reach their golden years, it’s vital to stay active and healthy. Though there are many paths your senior loved one can take to achieve this, adopting a pet can be a fun way to promote his or her overall health. Here are a few of the potential benefits.
Pets Boost Emotional Health
Adopting a pet is often the beginning of a beautiful friendship between a senior and an animal. Deciding to get a pet can be a wonderful experience for seniors because it may encourage them to do research and visit different shelters, getting their minds and bodies moving.
Interacting with a pet can promote social interaction and decrease stress as well. Studies have shown having a pet may also treat depression, a feeling many seniors experience. According to AgingCare.com, having a pet helps seniors focus less on physical limitations and more on the positive aspects of life.
Owning a pet is just one of the many ways seniors can enjoy socialization and prevent isolation. Not every senior has the same care needs, which means they don’t all need the same type of senior care. Phoenix families can rely on Assisting Hands Home Care to provide individualized care plans to meet their elderly loved ones’ unique care needs. Our caregivers help seniors focus on healthy lifestyle habits such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining strong social ties, and we offer mentally stimulating activities that can boost cognitive health and delay the onset of dementia.
Pets Aid in Physical Health
Studies have shown pet ownership can boost a senior’s physical health. In a 1988 study, researchers found petting an animal can lower blood pressure and heart rate. Seniors are often at risk for high blood pressure, but owning a pet may reduce their risk of complications or hospitalization. The American Heart Institute has praised pet ownership for seniors, noting it may also reduce instances of heart attacks and strokes.
Although owning a pet provides a variety of benefits, some seniors have serious medical issues that prohibit them from being able to care for companion animals. If your senior loved one needs help managing an illness or assistance with daily tasks, make sure you choose a top-rated provider of elderly home care. Assisting Hands Home Care is here to help your loved one live a happier and healthier life in the golden years.
Service Animals Can Help
Additionally, seniors with certain disabilities or illnesses may benefit from having therapy animals. This is a specially trained animal (usually a dog) that knows how to assist its owner with different tasks. A service animal may even be able to sense low blood sugar or an oncoming seizure. These animals bring life-saving tools with them as they become their owners’ friends and guides. Living independently is important for seniors who want to maintain a high quality of life. For some, this simply means receiving help with tasks that have become more challenging to manage over time. Even when families have the best intentions, they may not have the time to provide the care their elderly loved ones need and deserve. If your loved one needs help for a few hours a day or a few days a week, reach out to Assisting Hands Home Care, a trusted provider of home care Phoenix seniors can depend on. Contact one of our experienced Care Managers today to learn more about our reliable in-home care services.
