Society of Certified Senior Advisors: Could a Pet Help You Live Better?

Pets for Seniors

Is it wise to add a pet to your life just when you’re finally free of obligations? Studies show pet owners benefit, but make sure your pet fits your lifestyle.

Having a pet can reduce stress, lower blood pressure, increase your social interactions and help you learn. Those are a few of the findings from many recent studies on the interactions between pets and older adults.

In fact, a doctor in London has been prescribing animal sessions instead of pills for some of his patients. A general practitioner, Dr. Dirk Pilat refers patients to a team of two guinea pigs, a hen and a pair of rabbits for cuddle therapy. The animals are owned by Ione Maria Rojas, who was inspired by watching her grandfather struggle with dementia. The project strives to achieve “non-verbal communication and authentic connection” in older people.

Pets Lower Blood Pressure

"Dogs and other pets live very much in the here and now. They don't worry about tomorrow. And tomorrow can be very scary for an older person. By having an animal with that sense of now, it tends to rub off on people," says Dr. Jay P. Granat, a New Jersey psychotherapist. That may be why pets are so good at improving the general population’s blood pressure. In an Australian study involving 5,741 people, pet owners had significantly lower resting systolic blood pressure and lower cholesterol.

Pets can also help people with diagnosed high blood pressure. In one study of hypertensive subjects, all of the participants were exposed to the stress of solving a math problem and giving a speech. Then, half of the subjects were instructed to get a pet. Six months later, the entire cohort was retested. Those who now had a pet showed significantly lower increases in blood pressure during the stressors compared to those with no pet. Another study showed that the mere presence of a dog in the room while participants gave a speech alleviated the increase in blood pressure.

Dog owners get an added health benefit from walking their pet. A study of adults age 50 and over concluded that dog owners had the greatest health benefit among pet owners. Their body mass index was lower than others, they had fewer diagnoses of chronic and acute illness, and their lifestyles were generally healthier than those of other participants.

Easing Loneliness

Where to Find the Right Dog or Cat

Animal shelters across the country have dogs of all ages and temperaments looking for a good home. A shelter offers many benefits. Employees have observed and worked with the dog daily, so they know if it walks on a loose lead, requires a lot of exercise, is timid or bold, and gets along well with other animals. Shelter dogs are usually vaccinated and spayed or neutered before being put up for adoption. Some also come with a short guarantee of good health, so if your dog comes down with kennel cough, you can take him to a vet at the facility for free medication.

If you don’t want a long commitment or the spunkiness of youth, take advantage of a growing trend in the shelter community and pair up with an older animal. Mellow, older and wiser dogs and cats have the advantage of being housebroken or litter trained. Sure, they may need some extra vet visits or care for a chronic condition, but no one understands that better than older owners. Take a look at San Francisco-based Muttville’s Seniors For Seniors program. People age 62 and above can find their next canine buddy while skipping the usual adoption fee. And if adoption isn’t an option, you might want to consider their cuddle club, where senior volunteers sweet-talk, pet, and yes, cuddle up with older adoptable animals. Many shelters across the country offer similar programs, so be sure to ask if there’s a special if you adopt an older animal. Some facilities may even provide support if you need to change your living situation unexpectedly.

Call your local animal shelter(s) to begin looking for a suitable companion, or go online to view photos and descriptions of available animals. If you would like to expand your search, Petfinder lists a quarter million animals that need homes across the country. Maddie’s Fund at Petfinder addresses the many issues older adults might have about animal adoption. The campaign works to pair older dogs with older people, offering half off the adoption fee, pet care if the senior must spend time in a hospital or nursing home, free transportation to a veterinarian or groomer, and more!

Another way to look for an animal is with a breed rescue. Rescues are usually private organizations that rehome dogs (although you may also find one for cat breeds) of a certain breed that have been relinquished by their previous owner. People at the organization are familiar with the individual dog and very knowledgeable about breed characteristics.

PetSmart is a retailer committed to finding homes for shelter animals. In fact, customers at PetSmart stores nationwide adopt an average of 1,300 animals every single day. PetSmart refuses to sell “puppy mill” animals that are confined and bred continually for profit, instead offering an opportunity for dogs and cats from local shelters to meet patrons, and often, steal their heart in the process and find a new home.

"Older pet owners have often told us how incredibly barren and lonely their lives were without their pet's companionship, even when there were some downsides to owning an active pet," says Linda Anderson, who founded the Angel Animals Network in Minneapolis with her husband Allen. In fact, studies show positive benefits from a variety of animal associations, from older men in a veterans hospital who were exposed to an aviary containing songbirds, to seniors aging in place with a dog or cat.

Research proves that pets improve your mood by increasing the level of the hormone oxytocin. “This is very beneficial for us,” says Rebecca Johnson, a nurse who leads the Research Center for Human/Animal Interaction at the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine. “Oxytocin helps us feel happy and trusting,” she adds, which may help humans to bond with an animal over time.

The hormone may have other benefits. "Oxytocin has some powerful effects for us in the body's ability to be in a state of readiness to heal, and also to grow new cells,” Johnson adds, “so it predisposes us to an environment in our own bodies where we can be healthier."

Dr. William Banks of St. Louis University studied nursing home patients who spent time with a dog to see if it would encourage them to socialize and reduce loneliness. His team was surprised to find that in fact, residents who spent alone time with man’s best friend actually benefitted most.

Increasing Social Interactions

"If I saw you walking down the street, I couldn't comfortably start talking to you if I didn't know you, but I could if you had a dog," says Alan Beck, ScD, director of the Center for the Human-Animal Bond at Purdue University. "It's an acceptable interaction that otherwise wouldn't be possible." And who hasn’t started a conversation with the funny thing her cat did this morning? Even posting the antics of your pet online fosters responses.

People who use wheelchairs say that other people make eye contact with them more often and ask if they can be of help when they're with their dogs, Beck says. One study demonstrated that people in wheelchairs got more smiles and chatted more with passersby when they were accompanied by a dog.

Pets Influence Memory and Cognition

Proximity to an animal can stimulate memories that were previously trapped. "I've seen those with memory loss interact and access memories from long ago," says psychologist Penny B. Connenfeld, who brings her golden retriever mix, Sandee, to work in her New York City office. "Having a pet helps the senior focus on something other than physical problems and negative preoccupations about loss or aging."

Alzheimer’s disease patients can take advantage of one of several canine caregiver programs. A service dog can help dementia patients with daily tasks by fetching medication, reminding them to eat or guiding them home if they’ve wandered away. Studies show that animals reduce the number and severity of behavioral issues in people with dementia by boosting moods and increasing their caloric intake.

Pain Reduction

Many older adults live with chronic pain, but an animal can help take some of it away. In a study of fibromyalgia patients, 34 percent reported pain relief, a better mood and less fatigue after a 10-minute visit with a therapy dog compared to only 4 percent of those who sat in a waiting room without a dog.

Acute pain is also affected by the presence of an animal. One study showed that patients who underwent a total joint replacement needed 28 percent less pain medication if a therapy dog made daily visits to their room.

Unusual Pets

To explore the possibility that animals might produce physical benefits in older adults with dementia, one trial used fish. The study showed that individuals in several nursing homes gained weight after fish tanks were installed. The control group could view an underwater scene without live animals.

Having an aquarium, or just a goldfish in a large bowl, can help with insomnia and conveys most of the benefits listed above, including anxiety reduction and lowered blood pressure. Staring at an aquarium reduces muscle tension and pulse rate.

Guinea pigs, chickens, snakes, pigs and ponies can all have service animal credentials. Some of these may be suitable for seniors aging in place. Any animal with which the senior has a connection will confer benefits.

Is There Any Downside?

Actually, there is one big one. Thousands of people go to the emergency room every year because their pet has caused them to fall. Often, a pet owner has tripped over their dog or cat, but a fall can also occur when a food bowl is placed on the ground, or during play activity. Women are more likely to fall than men, but perhaps because more women own pets. One prevention strategy for dog owners is to get obedience training for your furry friend.

Cats can scratch, and dog owners have to be aware not only of their own safety, but liability in case their dog damages property or bites someone.

Are You Ready to Own a Pet?

Almost anyone can set up a goldfish aquarium in their home, since goldfish don’t need an aerator and the warm temperatures of most senior living situations will suit them fine. But pets such as dogs and cats require some hard thinking about whether or not you’re ready for the commitment they require.

Have you owned a pet before? If so, you know about how much time they need for play and exercise, on top of feeding and cleaning up. If not, talk to several people who are current or past pet owners. Dogs, in particular, need a lot of time with you and may require obedience training.

Does the pet’s energy level match yours? A puppy may not be the right choice for elderly owners. Neither would a very active breed of adult dog. But shelters often have older animals longing for a quiet, loving home. Likewise, if you’re not ready for a kitten hanging off your drapes, consider an older cat that will act more sedate.

Can you afford a pet? Dogs can cost thousands of dollars by the time you add up vet visits, cushions and other paraphernalia. If it’s one you’ll have groomed, factor in the cost. Cats are usually cheaper, and a guinea pig or fish can be quite economic. Also keep in mind that senior living communities may charge a pet fee of hundreds of dollars, and perhaps a monthly fee as well. Whatever kind of pet you want, make sure that buying and caring for it won’t strain your budget.

Will you be gone a lot? If you’re more into travel than being a homebody, it may not be the time of your life for pet ownership. A tank of fish will probably do fine while you’re in Europe, but unless you can afford to send Rover to the doggie play center or to a consistent caregiver, think hard and long about getting a dog. Cats don’t need as much attention as a dog (although many cat owners might argue) but they look to you for companionship and entertainment. If you’ll be travelling much, consider becoming a foster parent at your local shelter instead of an owner. Commitments are shorter, and you can choose when you’ll have an animal.