Pets: They’re more than just pretty faces,
important to
successful aging for people
When Olivia Rogers' husband Thomas died two years ago, her
shiny outlook on life began to grow dim. "We used to do everything
together. At times, I felt this terrible emptiness," explains
Rogers. "He was my best friend."
That's where Buddy, the 8-year old German Shepard mix came
in.
Olivia's son, Frank, had heard that pets offer wonderful
companionship to older adults who suddenly find themselves alone.
That's why he adopted the canine from the local animal shelter.
"At first, I was a little nervous about introducing a
35-pound dog to a small and relatively frail woman," recalls Frank.
"But the shelter staff reassured me that he came from a loving home,
was well behaved, and well trained. Buddy also seemed to have an
affinity for older people. He was very gentle with my mother when he
met her. They bonded immediately."
Olivia and Buddy are now great pals. They spend a lot time
together taking walks around the neighborhood and lounging in the
back yard. Olivia says Buddy also provides her with an added sense
of safety and protection because he often alerts her to approaching
guests, before she even hears them.
"Who wouldn't love a face like this?" asks Olivia as Buddy
nudges her for attention by gently placing his paw on her knee.
"He's a constant source of joy in my life."
The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) estimates
that there are 65 million dogs and 77 million cats kept as pets in
America. That's a lot of fur flying around! Dogs, cats, rabbits,
birds, and other companion animals are considered by many to be
"members of the family." Many people talk to their pets, travel with
them, buy them holiday gifts, and even celebrate their birthdays!
Older Americans have a special bond with their pets,
particularly if they live alone or far from loved ones. Kelly
Connolly of the HSUS says that “By now just about everyone knows
that an elderly person who has a companion animal in her life can
expect to enjoy many physical and emotional benefits, including
lower blood pressure, improved social skills, reduced stress, and
increased physical activity.” And of course, dogs and cats are
fuzzy, cuddly, and perfect to snuggle with when an elder wants an
extra dose of unconditional love.
What some seniors may not know is that in addition to their
endearing qualities, some companion animals play important roles in
their owner's lives. In fact, some pets are so important that their
owners would not be able to function without them. These types of
pets are known as "service animals." They are most commonly dogs and
cats, but fish, birds, rabbits and other animals can also be trained
for service.FEATURE ARTICLE
There are two types of service animals—"assistance animals"
and "therapy animals." Assistance animals, including guide dogs for
the visually impaired, hearing dogs for the hearing impaired, and
mobility assistance dogs for persons with physical disabilities, are
specially trained to help individuals that have physical or mental
disabilities. These
animals can be trained to open doors, turn on lights, and
even alert authorities in a medical emergency.
Therapy animals, serve by interacting with people in health
care, social, educational, and recreational settings. In health care
settings, therapy animals facilitate physical and psychological
sessions with patients. They also visit with patients, who are
encouraged to pet, interact, and play with them. Therapy animals are
also used in hospices, nursing homes, hospitals, short-term care
facilities, and even residential dwellings.
Pets help people live longer, healthier lives, by
increasing their physical and emotional well-being. Go ahead and
"Celebrate Long Term-Living" by interacting with a pet you love
today!
For more information on how to find a pet, visit
www.hsus.org/pets; for help in finding pet-friendly rental
housing, visit www.rentwithpets.org; and for behavior advice,
visit www.petsforlife.org.
The Humane Society of the United States is the nation’s
largest animal protection organization with more than 8.5 million
members and constituents. The group is based in Washington, DC and
has numerous field representatives across the country. On the web at
www.hsus.org.
As the nation celebrates Older Americans Month in May, you
can learn more about companion animals and other topics by visiting
www.aoa.gov. The theme of Older Americans Month—"Celebrate
Long-Term Living!"—highlights the goal of organizations throughout
the Aging Network to help older Americans stay healthy and active
longer. For information about local resources, contact the Eldercare
Locator at 1–800–677–1116, or visit www.eldercare.gov.
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