Older animals make the best companions for seniors. In some cases, pets are the only companions aging adults have. Being a pet owner could enhance your elderly loved one’s health. Here are some of the benefits seniors can gain when they adopt and spend time with senior pets.
1. Avoid Exerting Too Much Energy
Older pets aren’t as energetic and boisterous as younger animals. Therefore, your loved one can care for the pet without using too much time and energy. Instead, your loved one can take the pet on short walks through the neighborhood and do activities that don’t put his or her health at risk. By not exerting too much energy, your loved one reduces the risk of slips, falls, and serious injuries.
Seniors who need help caring for pets and looking after their own health can benefit from professional in-home care. Home care professionals can be a wonderful boon to seniors. Whether they require around-the-clock supervision or just need assistance with exercise and household tasks a few days a week, seniors can enjoy a higher quality of life with the help of trusted in-home caregivers.
2. Skip the Extensive Training
Most senior pets already understand basic commands, and they’re usually also house-trained. Your loved one will simply need to reinforce those rules and commands, which shouldn’t be difficult to do. For example, a senior pet will know not to chew on clothing or the furniture, but it may not know what areas of the home it can go in. However, since the pet is pre-trained, your loved one may have an easier time teaching it the new boundaries within the home.
3. Enhance Organization Skills
Senior pets generally thrive on structure. They’re familiar with being walked, fed, and nurtured at regular intervals, which could help your loved one stay organized. Having an older pet can keep your loved one on a schedule, helping him or her remember personal daily routines, and it can also lead to higher levels of self-discipline, which is good for your loved one’s overall health.
4. Enjoy Companionship
Your loved one can interact with the pet each day, doing things they both enjoy. This type of interaction can reduce the risk of isolation. Your loved one could also meet other seniors with older pets and form bonds with these individuals. This gives the pet the opportunity to interact with other animals while helping your loved one maintain social connections that boost his or her mental and emotional wellbeing.
Interacting with compassionate caregivers can also help seniors relieve stress and enjoy a higher quality of life. For families living in Clearwater, respite care can be a wonderful solution when their aging loved ones need companionship and socialization a few hours a week or just need minor assistance with daily household tasks. At Home Care Assistance, we thrive on helping seniors maintain their independence while living in the comfort of home.
5. Promote Independence
Taking care of a pet could boost your loved one’s quality of life and allow him or her to remain independent. Your loved one will need to make sure the pet eats, stays physically active, gets groomed, and is well cared for. This type of responsibility can stimulate the brain and stave off cognitive decline. Make sure the responsibility isn’t too much for your loved one to manage. Senior pets are typically easier to care for compared to younger pets that require more training and maintenance.
Though having an older pet can be wonderful for boosting an aging adult’s emotional health, some seniors may face health challenges that prevent them from taking care of a pet. There are a variety of age-related health conditions that can make it more challenging for seniors to live independently. However, many of the challenges they face can be easier to manage if their families opt for professional senior home care. Clearwater families can rely on expertly trained caregivers to keep their loved ones safe and comfortable while aging in place. Trust your loved one’s care to the professionals at Home Care Assistance. To create a customized home care plan, call (727) 330-7862 today.