Happiness in life can seem more and more elusive as we age. Illnesses, physical limitations and loss can all combine to make life seem more challenging and less enjoyable. But there is one way to ramp up happiness: get a pet! Even if a dog or cat is too much to manage, small pets like fish, rabbits and birds work equally well at creating happiness. Take a look at all the ways having a pet can bring happiness to seniors.
How a pet can bring happiness to seniors
Social support
Loneliness and isolation have reached epidemic stages in the United States and seniors are no exception. The loss of spouses and partners, declining mobility, and other factors can make socializing difficult. As a result, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention article, “Loneliness and Social Isolation Linked to Serious Health Conditions,” notes seniors have an increased risk for dementia, heart disease and stroke.
Having a pet, however, can fill the void by being a companion and friend for seniors. According to the psychologytoday.com article, “The Psychological and Physical Benefits of Having a Pet,” simply holding a pet increases the “feel good” hormones serotonin and dopamine. It also reduces blood pressure and the stress hormone cortisol which can cause hardening of the arteries and increase risk of a heart attack. For those seniors who want to gain these benefits but cannot care for a furry pet, the article notes that just watching fish in an aquarium can help seniors relax and feel calm.
Download our informative guide, Just the Facts: Independent Living
Purpose and well-being
Finding purpose during retirement is another key to finding happiness and staying healthy. Even when the nest is empty and the career is over, seniors who have a pet still find they are needed and wanted. Pets are dependent upon their owners to love them, feed them, play with them, and look after their health. In return, seniors who own pets reap a range of benefits. According to the University of Michigan’s National Poll on Healthy Aging article, “How Pets Contribute to Healthy Aging,” among seniors aged 50-80 who own pets:
- 73% gained a sense of purpose
- 88% felt their pet helped them enjoy life
- 79% reported reduced stress levels
- 60% reported their pet helped them cope with physical and emotional symptoms
In addition, seniors with pets also reported that having a pet helped them stick to a routine, something that the dailycaring.com article, “3 Top Benefits of a Daily Routine for Seniors,” notes can reduce anxiety and stress, increase feelings of safety and security, and even help improve sleep quality.
Cognitive health protection
Minimizing the threat of dementia is another wonderful way pets can bring happiness to seniors. According to the American Psychiatric Association article, “How Pets Can Protect Cognitive Health in Older Adults,” one recent study of almost 8,000 seniors showed that those living alone with a pet experienced slower cognitive decline (which can be accelerated among seniors who live alone), and another study of more than 11,000 seniors found that dog owners had a lower risk of dementia compared to non-dog owners.
Also notable is that a third study from Finland of more than 220 seniors with mild Alzheimer’s disease who lived at home found those who owned pets had markedly better daily activity function and slower progression of the disease compared to non-pet owners.
Better physical health
For seniors who own an active pet like a dog, there are also notable physical benefits. Getting regular daily exercise is essential to good health and seniors who own a dog not only reap the mental health benefits noted above, but they also tend to get more exercise from walking, playing, and grooming. As noted in the mayoclinichealthsytem.org article, “No bones about it: Dogs are good for your health,” just walking 30 minutes each day helps to strengthen bones, muscles, and joints, build stamina, and reduces the risk of obesity, coronary heart disease, osteoporosis, breast and colon cancer, and type 2 diabetes.
All pets are good pets
Seniors who can’t manage a dog or cat have plenty of other options. For example, a pet bird, reptile, rabbit, or hamster can provide companionship and a sense of purpose but require little space or time. For a look at some of the possibilities and considerations, check out the AARP article, “Great Pets That Aren’t Cats or Dogs.”
Pets are just one aspect of a happy and fulfilling retirement. Considering a senior living community for retirement? Learn more about the independent living lifestyle, download our informative guide, Just the Facts: Independent Living.
