Most working adults look forward to their retirement years with dreams of having limitless leisure time and very few obligations. While some seniors do enjoy this relaxing way of life, the reality of retirement often includes less interaction with friends and family and fewer outings and activities, which can lead to feelings of loneliness, despair, and lack of purpose. It’s crucial for family caregivers to understand the importance of building strong emotional support systems for their senior loved ones in all aspects of life. One great way to do that is through pet ownership. The following are just a few of the benefits seniors can enjoy when caring for furry friends.
Companionship
Adopting a loving pet creates a bonding experience that benefits both the older adult and the animal. A senior is able to show love and affection to an animal that can reciprocate those feelings, often helping the older adult feel he or she has a friend or companion to turn to at all times.
Having a pet is just one of the many ways seniors can enjoy companionship and prevent isolation. Not every senior has the same care needs, which means they don’t all need the same type of home care service. You can rely on Home Care Assistance to provide an individualized care plan to meet your elderly loved one’s unique care needs. Our holistic Balanced Care Method was designed to help seniors focus on healthy lifestyle habits, such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining strong social ties, and our Cognitive Therapeutics Method offers mentally stimulating activities that can boost cognitive health and delay the onset of dementia.
A Sense of Purpose
Sometimes older adults who are no longer tied to work and other commitments get away from their daily routines and find themselves moving from day to day with little or no sense of purpose. Caring for an animal involves performing specific important tasks that can reestablish healthy living patterns for seniors and make them realize they’re needed.
Aging in place can present a few unique challenges for older adults. Some only require part-time assistance with exercise or meal preparation, while others are living with serious illnesses and benefit more significantly from receiving live-in care. Rocklin, CA, Home Care Assistance are leaders in the elderly in-home care industry for good reason. We tailor our care plans based on each senior’s individual needs, our caregivers continue to receive updated training in senior care as new developments arise, and we also offer comprehensive care for seniors with Alzheimer’s, dementia, and Parkinson’s.
Cognitive Functioning
A recent study of how pet ownership affects older adults observed seniors in the beginning stages of dementia exhibited better memory recall and focused less on their ailments when they were given pets. Elderly people with pets are also more likely to engage their minds by reading up on their animals’ breeds and stimulating their brains while they’re involved in research.
Health Benefits
Research continually shows seniors who adopt and care for pets have lower levels of stress and blood pressure and experience fewer incidences of anxiety and depression. Additionally, older adults who have dogs generally get more exercise during the day because they take their pets out for regular strolls and play with them.
Before adopting pets, it’s important for families to consider their loved ones’ current abilities to see if pet ownership is a viable option. Also, the breed of the animal should be considered as well as its size, activity requirements, and the cost of pet care, such as veterinarian visits and food.
Although owning a pet provides a variety of benefits, some seniors have serious medical issues that prohibit them from being able to care for companion animals. If your senior loved one needs help managing an illness or assistance with daily tasks, make sure you choose a top-rated provider of elderly home care. Rocklin Home Care Assistance is here to help your loved one live a happier and healthier life in the golden years. From the mentally stimulating activities in our Cognitive Therapeutics Method to our friendly Care Managers who are available to answer your questions 24 hours a day, we offer a wide array of high-quality at-home care services. Schedule a free in-home consultation by giving us a call today at (916) 226-3737.