Pet ownership has long been presumed to be beneficial for mental health, but only recently have researchers started to explore the relationship between pets and physical health. Studies show that caring for a pet can improve an owner’s blood pressure, cholesterol levels, triglycerides, Body Mass Index, and physical activity levels. These benefits are also applicable to seniors who have restricted mobility and may need electric wheelchairs.
Pets Help in Improving Mobility Needs
Caring for a pet requires regular discipline, which means that your pet needs to be walked several times per day if it is not an outdoor animal. Overall, pets force their owners to take a break from a sedentary lifestyle and have fun with another living being. Elderly adults who own pets are more physically active than those without, which could lead to improved fitness and better overall cardiovascular health.
Pets are a Source of Companionship
People often ask how to choose a pet for an elderly person. An effective choice depends on the wide range of benefits from any animal. However, hard-shelled pets don’t have the same benefit of warm cuddling human contact that soft animals provide. Such pets include turtles, snakes and crayfish.
Some older adults want a pet to feel more loved, so cats are often better for this purpose than dogs. Large dogs are great for encouraging healthy exercise but can be too much of a responsibility for seniors with mobility aids.
Pets that require less care are better for some elderly owners who have trouble bending down or reaching up to access the pet. On the other hand, birds are also a good option for people who live in apartments. The reasons is that they don’t require as much maintenance as dogs. It is also important for elderly people to choose pets that are not large enough to knock them down and cause injury accidentally.
Pets Help Improve General Health
Older people with pets are statistically happier and healthier than their counterparts who do not have animals.
A 1993 research supports this where it found that seniors with dogs were more resilient to stressful life events in comparison to non-pet owners of the same age group. Moreover, these individuals:
- Were more open and less lonely.
- Experienced a decrease in health-related problems
- They went to the doctor less regularly.
There has been additional medical research in recent years which seem to collaborate with the 1993 research. For instance, the mere act of cuddling a cat or dog has a positive and relaxing effect on people.
Below are some of The Additional Health Benefits that Come with Owning a Pet:
- It helps in preventing blood pressure and reducing the level of cholesterol.
- Reduces the risk of cardiovascular illnesses and stroke. This is particularly attributable to improvements in blood circulation.
- The elderly and the mobility-challenged people become more emotionally stable. As a result, they experience less anxiety, irritability, and depression.
- Eating and sleeping habits improve.
- Pets aid in daily living tasks, such as preparation of meals, showering, and dressing up.