Pets & Seniors

Did you know that adopting a pet can help improve your mental and emotional health, especially as your grow older?

Many seniors face living with loneliness. Losing friends and family through the years can exacerbate depression, anxiety and even physical symptoms such as chronic pain.

This guide illustrates the many ways adopting a pet can help you live in the present and enjoy life.

If you’re ready to adopt a pet, or if you want to find pet and animal therapy options in your area, this guide will help you decide what fits best into your life.

Owning a Pet Can Reduce Depression

The overwhelming feeling of loneliness can be eased when you adopt a pet. Pets can give an older adult feeling of purpose and responsibility, and it allows them to focus on something other than their physical ailments or the loss of loved ones.

“Having a pet helps the senior focus on something other than their physical problems and negative preoccupations about loss or aging.” - Dr. Penny Donnefield, Ph.D., Clinical Psychology¹

This distraction of focus can make a big difference in easing depression, anxiety and overall mental health.

Owning a Pet Can Have Physical Benefits

A pet – especially a dog – will need regular walks and activity. When a senior adopts a pet, it can give them a reason to be more active, which will have long-term positive effects on their health.

From heart health to joint pain to obesity prevention and more, a pet owner who walks their dog a few times a day will most likely be healthier than someone who does not take this time to focus on physical activity.

In fact, one study said that older adults who regularly walked their dog had “greater functional ability” than seniors who either didn’t own a dog or didn’t walk their dog.

Dog owners spend 50% more time walking than people who don't walk with their dog, suggesting that owning a dog can help motivate older adults to be more active.²

The benefits of regular low-impact exercise such as walking can be tremendous for seniors. Having a pet gives you a reason to get more active and a companion for your walks!

Owning a Pet Can Give Your Life More Structure

Owning a pet can help give your life more structure and purpose.

At moments when you may not want to get out of the house on your own, you may be more compelled to do it if your pet needs some time outside. These regular walks can become part of your structured routine.

When you wake up in the morning, you will need to feed your pet or take your dog outside. At midday, you need to do it again. You’ll probably repeat these steps again around dinner time and again right before bed.

Now you’ve added routine activity to your days.

This regular routine can make life more fulfilling, as you may feel needed and that you have responsibility, important tasks and a purpose.

Owning a Pet Offers Companionship and Love

Another key benefit of pet ownership that can have far-reaching impact on the mental and physical health of a senior is the added companionship.

Many older adults may find themselves living alone, perhaps due to the death of their spouse. This can be a traumatic time as they adjust to being alone.

A pet can help immensely during a time like this, as they offer both companionship and the feeling of being loved.

A pet can help teach you to live in the present, simply because they do not worry about tomorrow. They are happy to be with you today.

Parts are excited to be near you and spend time with you, and they give you a living presence to help fill the space left by a loved one who is no longer there.

Owning a Pet Can Make You Feel More Secure

Whether you have a small cat or a golden retriever, having a pet can help you to feel safer and more secure at home.

Most pets take the safety of their owner very seriously and can alert you to potential danger. Whether you are on a walk or at home, a barking dog can be a deterrent to thieves and other would-be criminals.

Owning a Pet Can Increase Social Interaction

Many adults become more solitary and withdrawn as they get older – especially when it comes to new forming relationships.

Pets can offer you their own companionship, and they can also increase the number of social interactions with others. A pet can offer common ground and put you in situations to meet new acquaintances and help to build social bonds with others.

Going to visit the dog park, a pet store, the vet’s office or any number of other places you may go with your pet can give you an opportunity to make new friends who also have pets and who may share some of your common interests in animals.

Conclusion

As you can see, owning a pet can have many benefits for seniors.

Even though pet ownership does require some work, it can offer immense mental, social and physical health benefits, such as:

• Reduced stress and depression
• Added security
• Opportunities for social interaction
• Increased physical activity
• Companionship
• Purpose and structure

The key is to find the right pet for you and your particular lifestyle. So how do you get started?

How to Get Started Adopting a Pet

If you’re excited to add a new pet to your home, you need to get a few things prepared. Before you adopt a pet, make sure you get some of the items listed below. You may  be able to get some of these items used, or you may need to purchase them from a pet store or another department store.

Some things you need for a new pet include:

• Pet food
• Collar and leash
• Pet Cage, create or bed
• Pet toys

Costs for these items can range, depending on the size of the pet you are adopting, as well as the type of supplies that you choose.

Make sure that you find food that is intended for your pet’s age, size and breed.

To help you get started here are some national and state-specific resources who can help you adopt a pet.

Included in this guide are additional resources for things like pet sitting, pet matching and more. Some of the resources below may even offer discounts for senior citizens.

National Resources

Petfinder

You can search the online database at Petfinder to find animals who need homes. The database includes nearly 11,000 animal shelters and adoption organizations across the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Pets for Patriots

Pets for Patriots helps United States military veterans adopt a new pet friend and offers varioius benefits to make pet ownership more affordable.

Adopt A Pet.com

Adopt a Pet.com is a non-profit pet adoption website that helps over 17,000 animal shelters, pet adoption agencies and other groups connect potential pet owners to animals looking for a home. 

The Grey Muzzle Organization

The Grey Muzzle Organization helps to find homes for older dogs who no longer live with their original owners. This non-profit organization can help match senior citizens with older dogs who may be a good match for adoption.

Pets for the Elderly Foundation

The Pets for the Elderly Foundation helps pay the fees – including pre-adoption veterinary exams and spay/neuter costs – at participating animal shelters throughout the United States for senior citizens (age 60 and over) who adopt a companion dog or cat from a participating shelter.

Resource guides

Our resource guides provide helpful information and assistance for a range of topics such as prescription drug costs, alcohol abuse, fall prevention, senior hunger and more.

¹ Ballinger, B. The Healilng Power of Pets for Seniors. (Updated Aug. 20, 2018). Retrieved from www.agingcare.com/articles/benefits-of-elderly-owning-pets-113294.htm.

² Gretebeck, K. A., et al. Dog Ownership, Functional Ability, and Walking in Community-Dwelling Older Adults. (July, 2013). Journal of Physcial Activity and Health, 10(5), 646-655. https://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.10.5.646.

State Resources for Pet Adoption

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