Seniors Who Own a Pet Experience a Multitude of Physical and Emotional Benefits.
SENIOR LIVING
Paws for Good Health
Pets provide their senior owners with a variety of health benefits and emotional well-being, as Hagerstown resident Bettie Vanderlyn has experienced first hand. Her cat, Colby, follows her all around and is great company.
by Chris Clifford + photo by Chris Jackson
Seniors Who Own a Pet Experience a Multitude of Physical and Emotional Benefits.
The prescription for healthy senior living includes eating right, pursuing proper preventive care and staying active. But, rubbing your dog’ s belly to lower your blood pressure? Petting your kitty to boost your immune system? That’ s exactly what scientific studies indicate.
You may have noticed when you play with your dog and see the look of love in his eyes, it warms your heart. Doctors and scientists have observed this as well and have begun to examine how animals benefit humans, with many studies focused on seniors with pets. Research concludes that having a pet improves our mental and physical health and even increases our longevity. A Mayo Clinic study found that seniors with pets have 21-percent fewer physician visits. Research reported in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society( JAGS) concluded that independent seniors with pets were more active, managed stress more effectively, and had better overall health than those without pets. It also indicated people with pets are better able to remain emotionally stable during times of crisis than those without pets. Another study in JAGS demon-
Hagerstown: The Best of Life in Washington County & Beyond March / April 2013 107