Home > News

Article by Adrienne Kawamura
published in Answers for Elders , August 10, 2010

It is a known fact that pets do much more for humans than we do for them.

Pets can enrich the lives of the elderly in ways we are just beginning to understand. In the case of seniors who often live alone, this is especially true. They are guardians, companions and family, especially to those seniors who don't have much family left.

It has been known for years that pets can aid in recovery from illness, lower blood pressure and reduce stress. They also serve as diplomats. If you have ever walked a dog you know what I mean. You meet people. Not only are you getting exercise, but there is a social benefit as well.

Pets enrich our lives in ways we never dreamed of. They are there for us when others can sometimes not be there. They cheer us up when we are feeling down, giving us a reason to get up and carry on. Pets are spiritual creatures, and we have yet to understand all that they know. Because they don't have a voice like ours we sometimes take that for granted. But they know our very thoughts.

They sometimes know things before we do. There have been stories of pets waking up their owners in the middle of the night to alert them of danger. I recently read a story of a man in North Carolina who had dementia and had wandered off and could not be found. He was found a week later with his faithful dog by his side until the very end. The dog never left him.

Sometimes people feel they are getting along in years, and they are too old for a pet. It is never too late to have a pet. And if you are a family taking in your senior family member, I encourage you to take their pet. You just don't know how important this is to an older person. It is a joy to have a pet in their lives.