“The key to keeping up with pets is moving. Move with them!”
Ryan Armbrust
Pet Project
Most aging adults think about being able to keep up with their children and grandchildren as they age, but four-legged family should not be forgotten. The benefits of keeping a pet as you age are many, and are both physical and mental.
Physical benefits from having a pet as you age include lower blood pressure, reduced stress and increased physical activity. According to the American Heart Association, pet owners have reduced risk of heart disease and lower blood pressure on average than non-pet owners. One likely explanation for the tie between heart health and owning a pet is physical activity. “The key to keeping up with your pets is moving. Move with them!” said Natalie Tinsley, senior vice president of therapy services at Masonic Homes Kentucky. “I know there are benefits of having a pet first-hand from a family member and his dog. The dog has caused him to be healthier and encourages him to walk.”
Of course, as an adult ages, special concessions must be made to accommodate. Natalie warns that proper body mechanics and some modifications should be used when caring for your pet as you age:
- Pick pets up by bending from the knees
- Place their food and water bowls in an easily accessible place that is not a tripping hazard
- Modify their exercise schedule to taking four or five short walks a day instead of two long ones.
If an aging adult is worried about keeping up with their pets as they age, they can seek preventive physical therapy at Masonic Homes Kentucky at the first sign of any abnormal pain to avoid injury. “You can seek physical therapy proactively,” said Natalie. “Physical therapy is a great way to improve a person’s overall condition.”
The benefits of caring for a pet extend to recovery and rehabilitation as well. Pets give an owner a sense of purpose, and therefore another reason to recover from rehabilitation: so they can get home to continue to care for the pet that relies on them.
Animals can help in recovery even if they aren’t therapy-trained animals. The presence of a pet is calming, relieves anxiety and gives a sense of security. In addition to security and calm, pets provide other mental benefits as well. Pet owners are less likely to experience loneliness and depression and some even experience better memory retention than non-pet owners.