Pets are known for providing social companionship and emotional support. There’s a reason they often become members of the family. From a young age, kids ask their parents to get a puppy or a kitten. The desire for a furry or feathered companion doesn’t go away as we age. In fact, there are many benefits of pets for older adults. Pets even play an important role in senior living!

Benefits of Pets for Older Adults

Pets are enjoyable throughout life for many reasons. A cat purring or a dog wagging its tail are enough to make almost anyone smile. Whether it’s companionship, independence, or purpose, there are countless benefits of pets for older adults.

Companionship

As we get older, we’re more likely to feel lonely and isolated. Pets aren’t a cure, but they do help. You can have a constant companion when you have a pet. They want your attention and love. Pets also want to return the favor to you. People can come and go. They may come by for a visit, but then they leave. Especially if you live alone, you probably spend a lot of time alone. But you’re never truly alone with a pet around. They’re always there to keep you company.

Keeping Active

Staying active can be a key to staying independent. Pets are a great way to stay active – and independent. They keep you on your toes and on the go. If you have a dog, going on walks is good for you both. Even if you have a cat, you can put it in a stroller or on a leash and go for a walk. If you don’t want to go for a walk, playing inside can also keep you both active. You don’t have to exercise with your pet to stay active. Just taking care of them every day is a great way to stay active and independent.

Sense of Purpose

We all have a purpose in life. Our purpose changes and evolves as we go through life. As we age, it isn’t uncommon to feel like our sense of purpose fades or disappears. This can often lead to social isolation and feelings of depression. If you’re struggling to find a sense of purpose, pets can help. Pets provide a reason to get out of bed in the morning. A reason to take care of ourselves and something else. Whether you find it in a pet or elsewhere, a sense of purpose can boost your mental, emotional, social, and physical wellbeing.

Types of Pets for Older Adults

You probably have a preference for a specific type of pet. We tend to be cat people, dog people, or pet-free people. It might have started when you were young and stayed the same your whole life. Whether you’ve always liked one type of pet, or don’t know which suites you best, there are pros and cons of different pets for older adults.

Cats

Cats are one of the most common pet choices. They can be easy to care for and provide great companionship. For older adults, one of the biggest challenges with cats is that they can become a tripping hazard. Cats are notorious for being underfoot. It doesn’t take much for them to knock you to the ground. You may also find it challenging to clean the litter box because it requires stooping or bending down. That doesn’t mean you can no longer care for your cat though. Things like self-cleaning litter boxes make it more accessible for you to care for your cat.

Dogs

Dogs are also a common choice of pet. They often require a little more work than cats, though. Especially if they’re high energy and require lots of walks and activity. Like cats, dogs can also be a fall risk. If you’re already unsteady on your feet, it doesn’t take much for a dog to knock you over. That’s mostly a concern with high energy dogs. If you want to get a dog, try to find one whose personality and energy match yours.

As you age, some parts of taking care of a dog likely get more challenging. Giving them baths, taking them on walks, and even picking up after them in the yard are more difficult. You can still have a dog as your companion, though. You may just need to hire someone to help with some of the tasks.

Fish

You may find that fish are easier to care for. They’re less expensive, need less space, are less messy, and need less care. They can be a great choice if you’ve never had a pet or want something that’s less work than a cat or dog. Considering the benefits of pets for older adults, fish can provide a sense of purpose, but they don’t offer the same social companionship of other choices.

Pocket Pets and Birds

If you’re looking for something easier than a cat or dog, but more of a companion than a fish, you should consider a pocket pet or a bird. The most popular options are usually parakeets, rabbits, and hamsters. Like cats and dogs, caged pets are a great source of companionship. You can benefit mentally and emotionally when you pet and cuddle them. Since they don’t need regular walks, they’re easier than dogs. Plus, unlike a litter box, their cages are usually off the ground and much easier to clean.

Pets in Senior Living

Pets aren’t just a fixture of our lives. They’re a fixture of senior living, too.

Therapy Animals

If you have a therapy animal and decide to move to senior living, it goes with you. Senior living residents can benefit from therapy animals even if they don’t have one. Community volunteers often bring service animals to visit nursing homes and senior living communities. It’s a great way to benefit from the companionship of pets without the burden of caring for them. Depending on the community and the number of volunteers, therapy animals could visit weekly, monthly, or a few times a year.

You might even get to enjoy the company of animals other than cats and dogs. Sometimes volunteers could bring larger animals like horses or goats. In this episode of Senior Living Today, Springfield Masonic Community’s Director of Life Enrichment talks about pet therapy on campus. She even mentions chickens and goats wearing diapers and visiting residents.

Pet-Friendly Communities

Your pet is part of your family. Just because you move to senior living doesn’t mean you should have to leave them behind. That’s why some senior living communities are pet friendly. More often than not, independent living communities allow you to bring your pets. Sometimes, assisted living allows them, as well. The main requirement is that you can take care of your pet. You can still hire someone to help with things like walking your dog if you need to, it just isn’t provided by the community. If you’re touring senior living communities and considering moving, ask them about their pet policies. At The Ohio Masonic Communities, we’re proud to be pet friendly. We encourage you to bring the furry and feathered members of your family when you call our campus home.

Robotic Pets for Older Adults

Sometimes, caring for a live pet is no longer a safe option. But that doesn’t mean the benefits of pets for older adults don’t still apply to you. It just means we have to find other ways to involve furry companions in your daily life. This is especially true for residents with cognitive challenges like Alzheimer’s or another dementia. We offer our residents Cara’s Kennel as part of our Connecting Realities memory care programming. These pets may be robotic, but their lifelike feel, sound, and movement provide comfort, companionship, and purpose. See Cara’s Kennel in action in the video below.

At The Ohio Masonic Communities, we love pets. We know there are many benefits of pets for older adults. We’re proud to have pet friendly campuses where real and robotic pets alike aren’t just allowed, but encouraged. We have three senior living communities across the state of Ohio – Browning Masonic Community in Waterville, Ohio, Springfield Masonic Community in Springfield, Ohio, and Western Reserve Masonic Community in Medina, Ohio. If you are interested in learning more give us a call at 1 (877) 881-1623 or contact us here.