As human beings, it is in our nature to want to live as long as we possibly can. However, with old age comes a wide array of physical and mental disorders. To quell such disorders, many seniors are often subjected to unpleasant and at times costly medications and therapies. But what if there was a simpler solution? Could the answer lie with the pets and animals we keep in our homes? The better we understand human-animal interactions the more we can apply them to enhance the quality of people’s lives. This piece explores the ways in which animals affect human health and the role they play in the well-being of the elderly.
Indeed animals play a vital role in people’s well-being. Image may be NSFW.
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During the past decade, there has been growing evidence that pet and animal ownership can bring a multitude of positive physiological and mental effects on humans. Some of the documented effects of human-animal interactions include the improvement in social interactions, interpersonal interactions, mood enhancement as well as a reduction in stress-related conditions such as hypertension, abnormal blood pressure, and anxiety. Apart from these therapeutic roles, animals are also kept for companionship which can certainly affect the quality of an individual’s life.
The impact of pets and animal ownership on human health
All around the world people keep a multitude of companion animals the most common being dogs, cats, horses, donkeys, rabbits, hamsters, snakes, aquarium fish as wells a poultry and exotic birds. A study by J.B. Mendes in 2002 entailed taking measurements of changes in blood pressure and heart rate among stressed participants who owned a cat or dog versus those who did not. Participants who owned a cat or dog posted lower resting heart rates and blood pressure at the beginning and at the end of the experiment. Participants who owned these pets were also less likely to experience spikes in blood pressure and heart rates while under stress. The possibility of making errors was also higher among non-pet owning participants compared to those who had pets present during the exercise.
These findings point to the fact that having a cat or dog as companion lowers the risk of heart disease and improves performance by lowering stress. In fact, numerous research studies have shown that the action of stroking your animal companion can result in a transient decrease in heart rate and blood pressure.Image may be NSFW.
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Among the elderly, pet ownership can play a significant role in helping seniors be more active and lively. Multiple studies have shown that elderly individuals who kept pets fare better when it comes to performing physical activities such as walking, climbing stairs, feeding, grooming and bathing oneself compared to those who did not keep animal companions.
Another study found that animal companionship to high survival rates among patients with coronary disease. For people who had previously suffered from a stroke, the mortality rate was higher among people who did not keep pets than those who did. There’s also evidence supporting the belief that pets and other animal companions do help patients recover faster from surgery and illness. Results from a similar study also show that animal guardians were less likely to visit their doctor than people who did not keep pets.
Impact of animals on cognition and mental health
During the 18th century, an experiment carried out in an asylum for people with severe mental disorders. For the experiment, the asylum was stocked with rabbits, poultry, and hawks with the hope of encouraging self-control and responsibility. The experiment found that patients benefited greatly from having animals around them.
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Among the elderly, the mental and emotional benefits are more pronounced than the physical benefits. As people grow old, life can be incredibly lonely and barren especially when you live away from your children. It gets worse for senior citizens who have recently lost a spouse or a loved one. for young people, loneliness is not a big deal because they have the time and energy to move around and build a social life. For older adults, loneliness is much harder to handle. Luckily, pets and companion animals are more than capable of offsetting boredom and isolation.
Studies have shown that recently widowed women who own pets fared much better physically and psychologically than their counterparts who did not have animal companions. Research shows that pet ownership can erode the emotional trauma that arises from stressful life events such as divorce and loss of a spouse or loved one. Seniors with pets are less likely to suffer from anxiety and depression, the most notable side effects of loneliness.
Indeed, animal-assisted therapy (AAT) is becoming more popular in hospitals, nursing homes for the elderly and a multitude of other healthcare centers. The goal of such schemes is to improve the cognitive and psychological functioning of patients suffering from mental difficulties and emotional dysfunction. AAT programs have been particularly effective in reducing agitation and aggression among older adults suffering from dementia. Such programs entail organizing frequent visits from assistance dogs for a few months then studying the behavioral changes in patients.
Improved social interactions
It is safe to say that people who walk or jog with their animals are more likely to strike conversations with complete strangers compared to people who walk alone. The role of companion animals as social lubricants is more apparent among disabled persons. Indeed the presence of a pet significantly increases the number of approaches and acknowledgments from both friends and strangers for persons in wheelchairs.
People are more likely to mingle or engage in verbal interaction in the presence of pets such as dogs or cats. In another study elderly patients with Alzheimer’s disease showed better social contact and improved social relationships in the presence of a dog compared to another control group with no pets involved. Children with autism also benefit from greater use of language and enhanced social motivation when in the presence of animal companions.
However, the success of companion animals as social catalysts largely depends on the choice of animal you choose as your companion. It is advisable to choose animals that have a reputation for good temperament. For example with dogs, breeds such as Rottweilers are likely to elicit negative attention from members of the public.
Factors to consider when choosing an animal companion for elderly persons
One of the first things you ought to consider when choosing the right companion for an elderly friend or relative is the mobility of the individual in question. Image may be NSFW.
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For seniors who have no physical limitations, you are better off getting them a proactive animal such as a dog, horse or bird. These animals could just be the friend they need to keep them mobile and active. On the other hand, seniors who are physically challenged are better suited to cats that can curl up and keep them company on the bed or couch. Cats are often better choices than dogs because they require less care. Paper-trained dogs are also ideal because they are easy to look after.
The age of the animal is another important factor you need to consider. For seniors who are slowing down, an adult dog or cat would be the best choice. Puppies and kittens, though ideal for young children, may not be suitable for the elderly due to the amount of tender care they demand. However, the animals chosen should not be too old since they may start to exhibit physical limitations and sickness.
It is also very important to consider the state of health of the animal in question. Some pets do carry diseases and a sick animal can heighten the risk of asthma, allergies and other health complications among seniors. It is advisable to have pets examined by a veterinary doctor before introducing them in your home.
The bottom line
Measuring the positive impact of pets and other animal companions on the lives of people can be a challenging task. However, the degree of benefits is strongly influenced by the type of animal companion as well as the amount of time spent with the animal. The research findings thus far have been encouraging and more studies will be conducted to fully understand human-animal interactions. It is not possible to ignore the value that animals bring into people’s lives. A pet will definitely improve the general well-being of a person facing isolation and loneliness. There is also growing evidence that presence of pets and animals in educational settings boosts concentration, motivation, and relaxation which in turn improves learning and performance.
The full range of positive effects associated with having pets around include improved learning, enhanced empathy, reduction in anxiety, reduced aggression, improved pain management during therapy, enhanced social and interpersonal interactions, mood enhancement, the reduction of stress-related complications such as high blood pressure/heart rate, improved mental health as well as physical well-being. Having a companion animal is beneficial regardless of the stage of life of the owner. Animals have so much to offer in our lives, it is about time we embraced pets, especially rescue animals, in our homes.