The Gimli Humane Society

Pets For Seniors

You've probably noticed that when you pet a soft, warm cat or play fetch with a dog whose tail won't stop wagging, you relax and your heart feels a little warmer. Scientists have noticed the same thing, and they've started to explore the complex way animals affect human emotions and physiology. The resulting studies have shown that owning and handling animals significantly benefits health, and not just for the young. In fact, pets may help elderly owners live longer, healthier, and more enjoyable lives.

A study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society in May of 1999 demonstrated that independently living seniors that have pets tend to have better physical health and mental well-being than those that don't. They're more active, cope better with stress, and have better overall health. A 1997 study showed that elderly pet owners had significantly lower blood pressure overall than their contemporaries without pets. In fact, an experimental residential home for the elderly called the Eden Alternative, which is filled with over 100 birds, dogs, and cats and has an outside environment with rabbits and chickens, has experienced a 15 percent lower mortality rate than traditional nursing homes over the past five years.

Many nursing homes have taken this information to heart. For years, organizations like Pets on Wheels and Therapy Dogs International have been bringing thoroughly vaccinated, groomed, and behavior-tested animals into hospitals, hospices, and assisted living homes to give seniors a chance to pet and play with them. The residents get to have some therapeutic physical contact and a fun activity to break up their day. More recently, some resident homes have even begun letting animals live in the home full time.

Once every two weeks the Gimli Humane Society brings dogs or cats to the local Betel home for seniors to interact with pets that at this time are not permitted to stay permanently.

The animals help patients keep their mind off their problems. The love the patients get from the animals is unconditional. One particular stroke patient was withdrawn and rarely smiled, until he began to play with Bear, one of the Shelter's permanent residents. The patient and the dog became closely bonded to each other. Bear would come into the home and know which room to go to visit his friend. If the gentleman was too tired to join the others in the recreation area, Bear would simply go to his room and jump up on the bed to lie down with the man. Bear brought the resident out of his shell and he began to talk and smile.
The residents of the Betel always want to know when the dogs are coming and look forward to their visit.

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Alone time with pets helps seniors

"Dogs can ease loneliness better than humans, study finds"
"...Dogs apparently need no help lifting the spirits of lonely people. A study has found that nursing home residents felt much less lonely after spending time alone with a dog than when other people joined in the visit..."
Follow this link to view a report

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/10809482/

Finding that special pet

If there are older people in your life that you think might benefit from having a pet at home, be sure to talk to them before you pick one out. Make sure that they want the responsibility of a new pet, as well as the noise and the messes that may come along with it. Talk to them about whether they feel capable of feeding, watering, grooming, exercising, and cleaning up after an animal. If they decide they're willing to accept that responsibility, take your elderly friend or family member out with you to The Animal Shelter to pick out a new furry friend. They may fall in love with a dog or cat that might never have caught your eye.

Finally, before you encourage an older person to adopt a pet, consider whether you could take care of the animal if its owner is no longer able. Often, if seniors reach the point where they have to leave their homes and move into assisted-living facilities, they also have to give up their pets. The number of nursing homes and other types of housing for the elderly that will accept animals is growing, but the vast majority still don't
allow pets. Seniors can plan ahead and find a pet-friendly nursing facility, just in case they need to use it someday. They may also want to consider planning for their pet in their estate.

Pets and the elderly have a lot to give to each other. Research and experience has shown that animals and older people can share
their time and affection, and ultimately, full and happy lives.

Though pets can't replace human relationships for seniors, they can certainly augment them, and they can fill an older person's life with years of constant, unconditional love.