Benefits of Pets for Seniors

There's nothing more exciting than walking into your local animal shelter and falling in love with an animal. Owning a pet can be a lot of responsibility, but the rewards of caring for an animal far exceed the costs. If you're a senior considering whether it times for you to adopt a pet, know there are many benefits to bringing a new friend into your home.

Benefits of Adopting a Pet

Pets are great for many reasons, but there are benefits to bringing a pet into your home, especially for seniors.

• Companionship. For seniors living alone or suffering from social isolation, pets can provide a great sense of comfort and friendship. You can talk and share your feelings with them without fear of judgment. You can play with them or spend time watching them go about their lives. If you decide to adopt a dog, you can even take them on adventures outside the home. However, you choose to spend your day, your pet will be happy to join you.
• A sense of purpose. Some seniors struggle with feeling purposeful in life. Many are retired, their children have grown and started their families, and a spouse may have passed or no longer be in the picture. It feels like suddenly you go from having so much going on in your life to losing your drive. With a pet, you can feel a renewed sense of purpose because suddenly, you'll have this animal in your home who depends on you. No matter what pet you choose to adopt, you'll need to care for it, and having something to care for can provide you a new sense of purpose.
• Routine. Having a daily routine is excellent for limiting stress and anxiety. It's also helpful in putting purpose into your day. Pets share this need for a routine and do best when they have scheduled feeding and playtimes. When you adopt a pet, set aside time to feed them at the start and end of the day. If you have a cat, dog, or another animal that you can interact with, schedule time to walk or play. Once you have those times carved out, you can build a routine for yourself around those activities. Having concrete feeding and play times for your pet makes it easier for you to develop and stick to a routine for yourself.

Things to Consider Before Adopting

Bringing a pet into your home is a big decision. Here are a few things to consider to help you find the right pet for you.

• Your physical activity levels. When people think of adopting a pet, they limit it to choosing between a dog and a cat. While dogs and cats make great pets for people of any age, it is essential to remember that dogs and cats need exercise. When adopting a pet, ask about the pet's activity level and what types of activities they can engage in to keep them healthy. For example, all dogs need walks, but toy breeds don't need to walk as far as larger breeds and may get enough exercise joining you on a daily walk around the block. Ultimately, find a pet whose activity levels match yours and be honest with yourself about how much exercise they'll be able to get at your home.
• Your experience with pets. Owning and caring for a pet requires a lot of time and responsibility. If you've never had a pet or haven't had a pet since childhood, do some research on different pets and the level of care each one needs. If you're new to pets, consider starting with a fish or mature cat. Both fish and cats require daily feeding and weekly cleaning of their tank and litter box but otherwise are self-sufficient animals. If you want to be more involved with your pet, dogs make great companions, but different breeds need different care, so be sure to learn about a breed before adopting.
• Your financials. Pets can be expensive, so think about the pet's cost and if you can afford to care for it. Dogs and cats tend to cost more to care for because they need yearly shots and checkups. You should also consider if you have money to pay for emergency vet visits, especially if you're considering a senior animal. While older animals can be great companions because they don't need as much stimulation and activity, they are more prone to illness that may require medical care.

If you or a loved one is considering adopting a pet and need assistance transporting the pet to your home or adjusting your routine to care for a pet, the team at Visiting Angels Douglasville is happy to help. In addition to helping with pet-related tasks, our caregivers also provide light housekeeping, personal grooming, transportation, medication reminders, and more. Our Douglasville office serves those in Douglasville, Lithia Springs, Smyrna, Mableton, and the surrounding areas. If you'd like to learn more about our services, you can schedule a free consultation online or give us a call at 678.383.1962.