Best Friend for Any Age: Benefits of Pet Companions

Anyone who’s ever cared for a pet knows the sense of responsibility, comfort, companionship, purpose, etc. that it brings you. Having a furry (or feathery) best friend has many benefits, and a lot of those can be especially important to folks entering retirement and beyond.

Research shows that there are measurable physical and mental benefits to having companion animals.

They help with stress and anxiety, with our brains releasing endorphins (“feel-good” chemicals) as we pet them. They read our emotions and comfort us, making us feel needed and appreciated.

As people transition into empty-nesting, retirement, and the rest of what aging brings, the house may get quieter and schedules a bit thinner. The benefits of having a pet impact every owner, young and old, but pets have specific characteristics that can especially help us as we age.

• Studies show that pets can positively impact our stress and anxiety levels, as well as help us sleep better

• Having a companion animal lowers blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

• Senior pet owners are at a lower risk of heart disease and experience fewer medical issues, studies suggest, not only keeping them out of the hospital, but also assisting them in recovering faster from surgery and illness.

For those who are experiencing loneliness or depression, adopting a pet means they get a constant companion, one

who is non-judgemental and thinks its owner is the whole world. It fulfills a sense of purpose for some as they age,

giving them something to focus on and take care of. Pets are good at always making you feel appreciated, too.

Seniors who have pets are also more likely to reach the recommended

level of physical activity, taking dogs on walks, playing with cats and birds, and the like.

Many shelters and organizations offer discounts for those adopting senior dogs/cats/

animals, and our own SVFA offers another discount for seniors adopting senior pets. Senior pets are often a good way for aging folks to have a companion animal that is already welltrained and mellower

than a spry young pup.

Adopting a pet is a two-way street: the animal loves its owner unconditionally and gets a better life, from pound to paradise. Owners feel good about saving them, and get the benefits of having a furry best friend in their life. Those pets who were sitting in a shelter without a loving home get the attention and care of someone who has time to devote to them.