You may be wondering whether you should get a pet for your elderly loved one. Did you know there have been numerous studies and research projects done on how pets can improve the lives of senior citizens? The results have been outstanding. After reading about some of the benefits that a pet can have on the elderly, you can decide if a pet would be a good idea for your elderly loved one. Of course, you will be talking to your elderly loved one about this before getting a pet, but this information can help to guide that conversation.
Lowering Blood Pressure
One of the best benefits of having a pet is that it can lower blood pressure. The studies have found that caring for a pet helps to bring about relaxation and calmness. When someone isn’t as stressed, their blood pressure will lower (sometimes, by quite a bit). If your elderly loved one is currently struggling with high blood pressure, you may want to consider getting them a cat or a dog. Getting a pet that is cuddly would be even better as that is an even bigger stress reliever.
Feeling Less Lonely
Has your elderly loved one been feeling lonely recently? If so, no matter what the reason may be, a pet could be the solution for treating and getting rid of that loneliness. At the very least, the pet could potentially make your elderly loved one feel less alone. Just having a dog, cat, or a bird in the house can help senior citizens to feel as if they have someone by their side at all times. If needed, you could even hire companion care at home providers for extra companionship.
Focusing on the Present
Another great benefit of having a pet is being able to stay focused on the present. There are many senior citizens who continue thinking about the past or the future. For example, your elderly loved one might want to keep reminiscing about past memories. While that isn’t a bad thing, they need to be able to focus on what is happening in life now. Having a pet can help them to stay focused on what they and the pet need right now. For instance, a dog will need to be taken on walks. Your elderly loved one will need to keep up with those walks and feeding the pet, too.
Do you notice your elderly loved one is lonelier than they used to be? What about their health? Do they have high stress levels that might be causing their blood pressure to skyrocket? If so, it could be a good idea to get them a pet. As you can see here today, pets can have a lot of positive impacts on the lives of senior citizens. Now that you know about these benefits, you can talk to your elderly loved one to see if they want to get a pet and which one might be best for them.
Sources
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3351901/
If you are considering companion care at home in Katy, TX, for an aging loved one, please call the caring staff at At Your Side Home Care. We will answer all of your senior care questions. Call today: (832) 271-1600.
Our Certified Nurse Aides, 24-Hour Live-in Assistants and Home Health Aides are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. We also provide the security and confidence of 24-hour Telephone Assistance, so fast, reliable help is always available when it's needed. To learn more about our homecare services see our homecare services page.
Different people need different levels of homecare. To meet the requirements of our clients, At Your Side Homecare maintains consistent staffing levels of caring professionals. Homecare service is available for as little as a few hours a week, or as many as 24 hours a day, seven days a week
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