It
turns out that being a pet owner can provide a range of benefits to seniors
including helping them to live longer, healthier and more enjoyable lives. One clinical study done several years ago
tracked heart disease survivors after they were discharged from the hospital. Studying survivors’ medical histories,
lifestyles, families, and relationships, it found that, "The presence of a
pet was the strongest social predictor of survival...not just for lonely or
depressed people, but everyone - independent of marital status and access to
social support from human beings."
Another
study done by the American Psychological Association found pets provide an
important source of social support to their elderly owners. Researchers explain that senior pet owners “fared
better on several well-being (e.g., greater self-esteem, more exercise) and
individual-difference (e.g., greater conscientiousness, less fearful
attachment) measures.”
It
may be the benefits come from the fact that pets offer unconditional affection
and companionship. Also a pet requires
seniors to stay engaged in the day-to-day process of caring for the animal as
they need to feed, groom, walk and clean up after their pet.
If
you are thinking of getting a pet for an elderly family member, it is
recommended that you consider the person’s physical health and
personality. AgingCare.com says you
should also take into account the following: has the person owned a pet before;
does the animal have a good temperament; and will owning a pet cause a
financial hardship?
MorningStar
of Sparks is committed to provide the best
senior living Reno or Sparks offers, and we understand
that our residents do not want to leave behind their pet when they move into
our community. Please give us a call to learn more about our
pet guidelines as well as to schedule a tour of our
exceptional community.
The
unique mission statement of MorningStar of Sparks, “to honor, to serve, to
invest,” sets us apart from other senior living communities. Our foundation is
built upon honoring God, valuing all seniors, and investing in staff with a
felt calling to serve. Dedicated to creating a real home for residents within a
beautiful setting, we encourage you to learn more about the finest senior
living Reno/Sparks has to offer.
Sources: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21728449,
petsfortheelderly.org, agingcare.com/Articles/benefits-of-elderly-owning-pets-113294.htm
No comments:
Post a Comment