​The Anti-Aging Benefits of Having Pets

A study by Alan Beck, Director of the Center of Animal-Human Bond at Purdue University, showed that pet ownership can enhance health by improving a person’s morale, promoting better stress management and encouraging independence even as one is growing older.

A pet’s daily exercise need encourages a senior to get out of the house and move. Regularly walking a dog—at least fifteen minutes per day—is beneficial for cardiovascular health and overall physical abilities in older people. Numerous studies have identified the positive influence of daily dog walking on outcomes for post-heart-attack patients, improving survival rates.

Playing with and talking to a pet raises levels of serotonin and dopamine, hormones that promote a calm, relaxed mood. The human-animal bond is one of trust and love, unconditional on the part of the pet that doesn’t care about gray hair or balding heads, a few extra pounds or encroaching wrinkles. Pets also encourage laughter and playfulness, which can boost the older owner’s immune system.

Pets can even increase a senior’s social interaction, important at the life stage when some people retreat from others. Some pet supply stores allow pets to accompany shoppers. It’s quite common to see people with dogs on leads pausing in an aisle to chat about their pets.

When an older person gets a new pet, it should be chosen with care, considering any physical or other limitations. Generally, a young adult animal past the excitable puppy or kitten stage, already housebroken or litter box trained, is most likely a wise choice. Animal shelters are filled with grown pets needing new homes, and this is the best place for a senior to acquire a new pet. An adult animal will be its full-grown size, with its temperament more readily identifiable. Staffers at a shelter can offer advice to help match an individual animals’ temperament and their possible unique needs with your own.

As an example, seniors who are at all frail should not choose overly large dogs that could jump up on them and cause a fall, nor should they consider tiny, hyperactive ones that dart between their feet and pose a similar danger of tripping. A small (not toy-sized) to medium size pet with a docile temperament and low-to-moderate energy level (but also not delicate) is the preferred match for an older, less robust person.

Another further consideration is the financial impact of having a pet. All pets have basic expenses: food bills, veterinary/ preventive care, bedding, collar and leash, toys, etc, and there are further expense requirements to consider. A long-haired pet for instance, may require professional grooming. For a retiree living on a fixed income, expenses of pet ownership must be considered. If it would be too hard a financial struggle to care for a dog or cat full-time, a possible option might be a pet-sharing arrangement with another senior. Even a part-time pet will offer therapeutic benefits and help keep a senior young at heart.

The benefits of caring for a pet are numerous. Choosing a loving pet is clearly an emotional experience. Choosing the right pet for you by entering the experience with also a realistic approach, can result in a healthy, bonding, life changing relationship for both you and your new friend.