Pet therapy is considered an e of supplementary treatment for seniors. It varies according to the needs and capacities of the senior residents.
Pets Improve Heart Health
The American Heart Association has also claimed that pets can lower cardiovascular illness risk. All the diminished stress results from holding a calming pet or the light exercise taken to walk a dog.
Health Benefits from Pet Therapy
As reported by Katherine Scott, DVM, DACVIM, in a report on WebMD, all pet therapy comes with a substantial list of medical benefits, like:
- Reduced cortisol levels, the hormone linked to anxiety
- Raised serotonin, the chemical linked with health
- Projected reduced blood pressure or heart rates
- Soothing, anti-depressive effects
- Better socialization that brings about better mental health
- Improving strength with petting when recuperating from a disease or a stroke
Pet Therapy Calms Anxiety or Depression
Though pet therapy may assist with any age group, doctors have discovered it works well in helping seniors to soothe their anxiety or depression. It additionally seems to work more effectively for seniors with Alzheimer’s or dementia and supports many suffering from a mental illness or those suffering from heart failure. Taking care of pets or playing with animals may improve your living standards or assist seniors with complex life changes, like moving house or contracting a disease. Emotional support animals (ESAs) can get special training as psychological wellness companions. Pets show unconditional love. Pets are safe; they are not draining. They may assist seniors in paying attention to what happens now rather than what went or can go amiss. Aside from this, pet therapy may relieve anxiety or help them to attain self-fulfillment. It boosts their will to go on with living. Pet therapy livens the lives of elders or assists with improving their socialization.
Playing with Animals
Akin to their human counterparts, animals desire and have to experience leisure. Hence playing with animals can prove beneficial for both animals and humans.
Furthermore, it is relatively easy to find animals to play with, even if you do not have pets. Consider that most animal shelters are open to seniors who seek to pass on their cats, dogs, or more creatures to get better care.
Pets Offer Therapy and Company
Isolation remains the leading cause of depression among mature elders. Providing your loved ones with the fullest extent of your time or attention that you can prove to assist them greatly. Getting excessively furious, stressed, or worked up may only aggravate the situation overall for them and might further provoke them to build defensive stances and turn hostile. Instead, motivate them to communicate honestly by conversing compassionately about what could be troubling them. Communicate clearly that you will listen objectively without judgment to all they desire to share.
Pet therapy can alleviate isolation in elders by offering a source of treatment and companionship. They may enhance mental alertness or comfort. Petting, feeding, brushing, or interacting with a pet may help forge a sense of identity. This was found to work more effectively for seniors who walk their pets.
Pets Boost Physical Activity
Though the most popular pets are cats and dogs, several versions of pet therapy include livestock, horses, or other pets of the elder’s choice. With research on fitness activity, dog owners are often physically active due to the need to walk their dogs. Keeping fit and exercising frequently offers seniors mental, physical, or emotional help.
