Pets and the Psychological Health of the Elderly
Elderly people can improve their psychological health and well-being by having a pet as a companion. Dogs and cats work particularly well as pets for the elderly.
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Reduced Sense of Isolation
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According to a study in the "The Journal of the American Geriatrics Society," pet ownership helps to reduce the negative psychological impact of being socially isolated that is common for elderly people.
Improved Sense of Responsibility and Purpose
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Seeing themselves as caretakers gives older people an improved sense of responsibility and purpose.
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Greater Self-respect
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Completing regular tasks such as feeding and grooming pets can give an elderly person a greater sense of self-respect, control over his or her environment and a sense of independence.
Improved Emotional Resilience
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Geriatric researchers found that pet-owning elderly people without strong social support such as family and friends stayed emotionally healthy when confronted with life's difficulties compared to elderly people who did not own pets.
Greatest Benefits When Matched Well
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The best psychological benefits are found when the personality of the pet is matched to the personality of the elderly pet owner. For instance, some very active dogs require frequent walking and exercise and should be paired with someone capable of that level of activity on a regular basis. See the Resources section for guides to finding the right dog or cat for a given individual.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Powi) (Per Ola Wiberg
