Pets Can Help Lower a Senior’s Stress Level
May 14, 2024
As your senior ages in place, they may experience more stress. They may need help managing a house or they may need help with transportation, but they will also need to figure out how best to manage their stress. Luckily, there are so many things a senior can do to help ease the stress they feel. Adopting a pet can be one of the best things your senior does. It doesn’t seem like a pet would help stress levels but the truth is having someone, even a furry friend around, can truly help your senior feel loved while aging in place.
Before buying your senior mom or dad a pet you will need to evaluate their level of independence. Your loved one may need more help from home care when it comes to things like bathing, dressing, or transportation. If they can do most things on their own they will do well with a pet of their choice, if they need more help they may not be able to have a pet. Keep in mind home care may help your loved one remember to buy animal food, clean up after an animal, or provide small reminders to help keep your loved one on track. All of that can help ease stress. However, animals themselves provide a lot of stress relief, and here is how:
Pets Provide Unconditional Love
One of the best things about pets is they provide unconditional love and companionship to those who own them. If your senior loved one has just lost someone dear to them they may be in need of someone to snuggle, hold, and love, a pet can offer this. Pets are typically always happy to see their owners and will always greet them in a warm and kind way unlike humans sometimes will. Your loved one may be going through a stressful time but their day can easily become much better if they have a furry friend waiting for them at home.
They Love to Play
Animals love to play and that can be an instant mood booster. When you see a small dog who wants to play it can make you feel happy and this is true for seniors who have dogs or even cats. Watching animals play can bring joy. As a senior ages in place they need to find happiness in small places and owning a pet can help them achieve that. They can think on the brighter side when they have a companion who is always positive and happy.
Caring for a Pet Helps Create a Routine
Animals tend to thrive on routine and that is going to be a huge focus for someone who is aging in place. Home care will work with your elderly parents to create a routine that helps them thrive. However, this routine can be good for animals too. Maybe a senior goes on a walk every morning, maybe they let the dogs outside at the same time, or maybe they feed the cats at 8 am sharp. Animals and seniors can thrive at home with a good routine and this can make them amazing pet owners.
If you or your loved one is looking for Home Care in San Jose, CA, please call Familiar Surroundings Home Care.
Santa Clara County: (408) 979-9990
San Mateo County: (650) 353-9777
Santa Cruz County: (831) 480-3990