St. Seton's Orphaned Animals
provides significantly discounted
adoptions to persons over the age of
60.
provides significantly discounted
adoptions to persons over the age of
60.
According to Dr. Alan Beck, director of the
Center for Human-Animal Bond at the School
of Veterinary Medicine at Purdue University:
"For older people who may be less mobile and
who have few or limited companions, animals
provide family and friendship, something to
care for and to be recognized by."
Center for Human-Animal Bond at the School
of Veterinary Medicine at Purdue University:
"For older people who may be less mobile and
who have few or limited companions, animals
provide family and friendship, something to
care for and to be recognized by."
Everyone, young and old, he says, has a real need to nurture something or
someone. "This need to nurture does not stop when our children are grown or are no
longer babies, or when our grandchildren are grown," Beck says. "The nice thing
about a pet is that she may grow older, but she will never grow up. She will always be
your baby."
someone. "This need to nurture does not stop when our children are grown or are no
longer babies, or when our grandchildren are grown," Beck says. "The nice thing
about a pet is that she may grow older, but she will never grow up. She will always be
your baby."
Pets provide their owners with love,
friendship, and affection. Recent research
has shown, though, that pets do much
more. Owning a pet can significantly
improve your physical and mental health.
1. Companionship
Loneliness is a major issue for elderly
people, especially for people who are
socially isolated. Owning a dog, cat, or
other animal can reduce loneliness
among people who might otherwise feel
alone.
2. Exercise
Pets need to be walked or played with
often, and this can increase the amount of
daily exercise elderly pet owners receive.
Studies have shown that older people with
pets had much higher levels of physical
activity than non-pet owners.
3. Social Interaction
Animals are natural people magnets, and
having a dog or cat can increase social
opportunities for older people. People
love to talk about their pets, which often
leads to new friendships.
4. Stress Reduction
Pet owners have significantly lower levels
of stress than people who don’t own a
dog, cat, or other animal. The
unconditional love and affection pets offer
can help elderly people get through tough
times more easily.
5. Better Mental Health
Those who study depression in elderly
people report that pet ownership
correlates positively with lower levels of
depression. Touching or interacting with a
pet raises the level of serotonin and
dopamine in the brain, which can increase
feelings of well-being in pet owners.
6. Lower Blood Pressure
Pets can also help increase the physical
health of their owners. Studies done at
New York medical schools have shown
that pet owners experienced less
hypertension on average than people
without a pet.
7. Lower Cholesterol Levels
Medical research has also shown that pet
owners, particularly elderly ones, have
lower cholesterol levels than people who
do not own pets.
8. Resilience
Studies have shown that pet owners of
any age both have higher levels of
immunity to disease and recover from
major illness or surgery faster than non-
pet owners.
9. Mental Stimulation
Playing with, talking to or just cuddling
with a pet has been shown to increase
brain activity in elderly people, which
helps ward off or lessen the effects of
many mental disorders.
10. Better Sense of Well-Being
The feeling of responsibility many elderly
people have towards their pets, as well as
the everyday companionship they
provide, has been reported to make
people feel more hopeful about their lives
and future.
friendship, and affection. Recent research
has shown, though, that pets do much
more. Owning a pet can significantly
improve your physical and mental health.
1. Companionship
Loneliness is a major issue for elderly
people, especially for people who are
socially isolated. Owning a dog, cat, or
other animal can reduce loneliness
among people who might otherwise feel
alone.
2. Exercise
Pets need to be walked or played with
often, and this can increase the amount of
daily exercise elderly pet owners receive.
Studies have shown that older people with
pets had much higher levels of physical
activity than non-pet owners.
3. Social Interaction
Animals are natural people magnets, and
having a dog or cat can increase social
opportunities for older people. People
love to talk about their pets, which often
leads to new friendships.
4. Stress Reduction
Pet owners have significantly lower levels
of stress than people who don’t own a
dog, cat, or other animal. The
unconditional love and affection pets offer
can help elderly people get through tough
times more easily.
5. Better Mental Health
Those who study depression in elderly
people report that pet ownership
correlates positively with lower levels of
depression. Touching or interacting with a
pet raises the level of serotonin and
dopamine in the brain, which can increase
feelings of well-being in pet owners.
6. Lower Blood Pressure
Pets can also help increase the physical
health of their owners. Studies done at
New York medical schools have shown
that pet owners experienced less
hypertension on average than people
without a pet.
7. Lower Cholesterol Levels
Medical research has also shown that pet
owners, particularly elderly ones, have
lower cholesterol levels than people who
do not own pets.
8. Resilience
Studies have shown that pet owners of
any age both have higher levels of
immunity to disease and recover from
major illness or surgery faster than non-
pet owners.
9. Mental Stimulation
Playing with, talking to or just cuddling
with a pet has been shown to increase
brain activity in elderly people, which
helps ward off or lessen the effects of
many mental disorders.
10. Better Sense of Well-Being
The feeling of responsibility many elderly
people have towards their pets, as well as
the everyday companionship they
provide, has been reported to make
people feel more hopeful about their lives
and future.
| St. Seton's Orphaned Animals offers discounted adoptions to persons over the age of 60 thanks to a grant from Purina. |
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