Now that I’ve been a pet owner for about five years now, I truly recognize the value of pet therapy in senior living communities. As much as my grandfather scolded me for getting two dogs (he knew how attached I would get and wisely advised against it), he loved visits from my crazy pups. In fact, during our last visit with my Grandpa, Balou (my six-year-old Boston Terrier) laid quietly on his lap in the hospital bed for hours (meanwhile, Peaka, his 1-year-old sister, combed the floor for morsels that had dropped below). Balou does enjoy a good snuggle now and then, but laying that still for that long is not typical behavior for this active dog. I believe he was treasuring his last visit with the man who gave him lots of yummy breakfast scraps over the years – and providing quiet comfort and company for Grandpa, who had lost so much of himself to the ravages of Alzheimer’s.

Whether you classify yourself as an animal fanatic (i.e. subscriptions to Dog Fancy magazine, an avid Animal Planet watcher, or one who dresses up the “kids” for Halloween) or the type that prefers a hairless, odor-free home and would rather admire animals at the zoo, most people know that there are health benefits that accompany pet interaction (unless, of course, you are like my Dad and are highly allergic, in which case the benefits are far outweighed by your ability to breathe comfortably).  Take it from Dr. Patricia McConnell, animal behaviorist and author of For the Love of a Dog: Understanding Emotion in You and Your Best Friend: “We know from studies that interacting with pets can have a direct influence on your health, from lowering your blood pressure and increasing levels of serotonin to helping you get more exercise.”  These positive outcomes apply to all age groups, but we also know that seniors in particular find extraordinary benefits in the company of critters. Remember the cat who seemed to know when people in a Rhode Island nursing home were about to pass away? Cat ‘knows’ when patients will die | News for Austin, Texas | KVUE.com | Top Stories

Loneliness, depression, isolation – these and other conditions common among older adults may be alleviated by having a soft little bunny or a large German Shepherd to care for – whatever the preference may be. And don’t forget our feathered or fishy friends, says Dr. McConnell: “Fish, birds, and other animals can reduce loneliness and encourage healthy behaviors as well. For example, researchers from Purdue University noticed that residents of special care units of Alzheimer’s patients began to eat more healthfully when aquariums were introduced into their dining rooms. In another study, conducted in northern Italy, seniors who were given canaries had fewer cases of depression in comparison to those in the study without pets.”

Nursing students in West Virginia fulfilled a course requirement by introducing a 55-gallon aquarium into a local senior living home. According to senior Erica Bailey, “The aquarium gives residents a colorful, uplifting point of focus…It can help decrease their blood pressure, relieve stress, and it’s a low risk, low maintenance resource.”

The Eden Alternative, an organization based on the core belief that aging should be a continued stage of development and growth, rather than a period of decline, has been a leader in bringing pet therapy to senior living communities. Many other facilities have followed suit and integrated pet therapy programming into resident life, whether the pets “live in” or come to visit on a regular basis (i.e. Pets on Wheels or The Delta Society).

You might be allergic like my Dad, or you might not be a big fan of things that bark or bite, but you cannot deny that pets bring a lot of joy, comfort and meaning to older adults in a number of settings…and that’s a very good thing!

The Humane Society is another great resource for those seeking more information about pet therapy. Check them out at http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/therapy_pets.html.

Tell us about your favorite pets and how they have brought a smile to a senior loved one’s face!

- Michelle Seitzer