It is true that most senior citizens that on pets experience less stress. This can be attributed to the comfort they get from these animals and the need to learn to be patient as they encounter and interact with their pets. The common pets owned by senior citizens are the dog and the cat, but other animals like rabbits, horses and fish can be used in interactive pet therapy. With chances of mortality in the spouses of the elderly at all-time high, loneliness kicks in, the obvious companion an elderly can have after the untimely death of a spouse would be a pet. This is because most of their grown up children have started their own independent living.
Most senior citizens that own a pet are less likely to visit a doctor for stress related cases. Pets offer the distraction away from worries and problems facing a fast moving world. A trained dog is more likely to be patient enough to lead a blind elderly man across a road, give his master the feeling of companionship and protection. On the other hand not so many humans have patience as a virtue compared to that pet. A pet stimulates its owner to be physically active in taking care of it. This is usually a greater source of affection for the senior citizen as it make them feel more connected to the world.
In conclusion, the health benefits that come with owning a pet are far much better than the solitude that come with old age. Senior citizens cherish and value the relationship they have with their pets. They make them feel alive and improve lower their blood pressure.
References
Beck, A. M., & Katcher, A. H. (1996). Between pets and people: The importance of animal companionship. West Lafayette, Ind: Purdue Univ. Press.
Pavlides, M. (2008). Animal-assisted interventions for individuals with autism. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Blazina, C., Boyraz, G., & Shen-Miller, D. S. (2011). The psychology of the human-animal bond: A resource for clinicians and researchers. New York: Springer.
