THE VALUE OF PET PALS FOR SENIORS!
Dogs and cats help everyone overcome the pain of loneliness by supplying companionship and affection. For anyone who is consistently left alone pets can also supply a sense of security and protection. Pets can make you laugh and divert your mind away from troubles. They also broaden your circle of friends and encourage good health through exercise. Studies show that pets can aid relaxation, lower one's blood pressure, promote health, and prolong life. They help us unwind. Nurtured by the affectionate attention of pets, stress and anxiety are eased. Anyone who ever bonded with one will confirm the value of a pet.
Many of your medical providers know that if you suffer from heart disease or stress, a cuddle a day may keep the doctor away. But if hugs are hard to come by, the next best thing may be a dog or a cat in the lap.
Many elderly and lonely individuals have discovered that pets satisfy their needs and enable them to hold on to the world of reality, of care, of human toil and sacrifice, and of intense emotional relationships. Their self-concept as worthwhile individuals is restored and even enhanced when they find that the pet they have been caring for loves them in return.
According to a study in the International Journal of Aging and Human Development, many elderly Americans think having a pet is more mportant than moving to a convenient place to live where pets aren't allowed. Unfortunately, some elderly, who live in a federally assisted facility are unaware that it's against the law to discriminate against pet owners. The good news is that tolerance for pets in elderly housing facilities is increasing and all states now allow pets in nursing homes
