It
turns out that being a pet owner can provide a range of benefits to seniors
including helping them to live longer, healthier and more enjoyable lives. One clinical study done several years ago
tracked heart disease survivors after they were
discharged from the hospital. Studying
survivors’ medical histories, lifestyles, families, and relationships, it found
that, "The presence of a pet was the strongest social predictor of
survival...not just for lonely or depressed people, but everyone - independent
of marital status and access to social support from human beings."
Another
study done by the American Psychological Association found pets provide an
important source of social support to their elderly owners. Researchers explain that senior pet owners “fared
better on several well-being (e.g., greater self-esteem, more exercise) and
individual-difference (e.g., greater conscientiousness, less fearful
attachment) measures.”
It
may be the benefits come from the fact that pets offer unconditional affection
and companionship. Also a pet requires
seniors to stay engaged in the day-to-day process of caring for the animal as
they need to feed, groom, walk and clean up after their pet.
If
you are thinking of getting a pet for an elderly family member, it is
recommended that you consider the person’s physical health and
personality. AgingCare.com says you
should also take into account the following: has the person owned a pet before;
does the animal have a good temperament; and will owning a pet cause a
financial hardship?
MorningStar
of Beaverton’s goal is to provide the best senior living in
the area, which is why we are happy to welcome our resident’s furry friends. Please contact us to learn more about our pet
guidelines as well as our amenities,
activities and wellness programs.
MorningStar of Beaverton’s distinct
mission statement “to honor, to serve, to invest” sets us apart from other
senior living options. Our
foundation is built upon honoring God, valuing all seniors, and investing in
staff with a felt calling to serve. Dedicated to creating a real home for
residents within a beautiful setting, we encourage you to see for yourself the
area’s finest senior living community.
Sources: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21728449,
petsfortheelderly.org, agingcare.com/Articles/benefits-of-elderly-owning-pets-113294.htm
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