Pet Therapy and Improving Quality of Life for Seniors

Over the years, advancements in medical technology and science have provided solutions and treatments which enable seniors to live comfortably in the twilight of their years. A few alternative means of remedying known health problems have also come to the fore and research has shown that they prove just as effective as conventional medicine. One of these methods which have now been proven effective is pet therapy for seniors.

Seniors in assisted living facilities are well-cared for. They have a caring staff catering to their every need and can get the required medical care they need at any time. Yet, the sense of being away from home and family can be overwhelming, particular for seniors who were used to an active and social lifestyle during their younger years. This leads to frustration and ultimately a sense of loneliness and depression. Seniors are at risk of mood disorders and emotional health problems if they are in a state of dejection. Pet therapy can fill this void in their lives, providing them a source of attachment and companionship.

 

Pet Therapy: A Boon for Senior Living

Pet therapy is increasingly being viewed as a genuine field of medicine, where pets are used for therapeutic purposes. Having a pet as a companion enables seniors to deal with the health problems they face at their age. Generally, cats and dogs are preferred options but pet therapy can involve any animal of the patient's preference. Among the health problems that pet therapy has been proven to be effective against include mental health disorders and heart disease. You can take the initiative to introduce this treatment method at your facility. It is increasingly being adopted in nursing homes.

Pet therapy not only entails living with and caring for a pet but also activities in which the pet and the owner engage. This helps foster a bond between the two, a sense of attachment which is a substitute for the loneliness a senior may feel living on his/her own at an assisted living facility. The therapy is effective but the overall impact goes far beyond the health benefits. Having a pet around can lift their spirit and boost their mood, enabling them to ward off potential health problems which may set in because of their inactive and depressive lifestyle.

In particular, pet therapy proves effective when a person is recovering from an illness or disease. With a weaker immune system, seniors are prone to contracting illnesses and developing health problems, so via pet therapy, you can help improve the process of recovery and enable them to get better quickly. Pet therapy also acts as a way to relieve stress. Stress, as you would know, is an underlying cause of most common medical problems today. By introducing a pet for residents, you can transform your facility into a stress-free sanctuary.

The Obstacles to Pet Therapy in Senior Living

In their advanced age, seniors cannot be expected to run after their pets or train them to obey their every command. Then, there is the requirement to feed and care for the pet, including bathing and washing, and also cleaning after it. This is the reason there are a few obstacles to pet ownership at assisted living facilities. Firstly, there is the financial aspect. Seniors usually don't have the funds to purchase a pet, let alone look after it. It can be quite expensive to have a pet around, as they have to pay for food, trips to the vet, and toys.

One option in this regard is allowing seniors to pick pets from shelters and pounds, so they can save on the expense of buying the pet in the first place. This will help keep the costs down significantly.

The next issue is the responsibility factor. Will the senior be up to taking care of a pet? Pets, particularly dogs, are needy creatures. Not only do they require proper food and grooming but they also need their daily exercise. Seniors mostly lack the energy to take a dog out for a walk, or for controlling an energetic pet at the facility. Again, this is where picking a pet from a shelter can help, as they can help seniors pick the right pet based on their needs and living conditions. However, executives at the assisted living facility should be prepared to take on some of the responsibility to encourage pet therapy.

When it comes to allowing seniors to keep pets, the benefits outweigh the drawbacks significantly. So, there is no need to debate the point. As long as the senior is financially and physically capable of looking after a pet, you should not deny them the opportunity. A healthier resident will mean less work for you and the reputation of your establishment will receive a boost.

The Pet Ownership Checklist

Continuing from the previous point, seniors who are able to care for pets should be encouraged to find a canine or feline friend. However, there are certain factors you should consider before allowing pets into the facility. Obviously, you will have to consider the comfort level of other residents. If a few residents don't want to have a dog or a cat roaming around the premises, you might have to do a little convincing. Once that is out of the way, you should evaluate if a senior who is interested in pet therapy will be up for the task. Here are a few points you have to consider:

• Pet Allergies: Make sure the senior has no pet allergies, or the pet therapy could backfire.
• Experience: It helps if the senior has experience of owning a pet. If not, it will take some time for them to adjust
• Ability: The most important factor, you need to make sure the senior is able and willing to take on the responsibility of a pet
• Finance: Will you be able to afford the ongoing costs of having a pet? If not, are there any other options?

Seniors who check all the boxes are ideal candidates for pet therapy. However, you should make it a point to check the pets as well before they are brought over to the facility. A few things you should evaluate are:

• Temperament: Is the pet likely to be aggressive or violent?
• Health: Does the animal have any existing conditions? Does he have any allergies?
• Training: Is the pet well-behaved? If a pet requires training, he/she is not suitable for an assisted living facility, or pet therapy for that matter.

Make sure you consider all these factors before allowing any senior in your facility to keep a pet. At the end of the day, the responsibility lies with you.

How Pet Therapy Affects Senior Living

Professional mental health experts have commented on the remarkable benefits of pet therapy for senior living. Having a pet by their side when living at an assisted living facility offers a number of benefits.

Improved Quality of Life

Pet therapy can transform the quality of life for seniors living in assisted living facilities. For one, caring for a pet is a source of physical activity, something seniors don't usually get much of. As you would know, staying physically active is important for bone and joint health and can ward off a number of potential health issues. In addition, physical activity can improve the blood flow throughout the body, ensuring the risk of arthritis is minimized. Overall, being physically active will exert the seniors sufficiently so they can get proper sleep every night, without fail.

A Companion to Enjoy

A pet can be the perfect companion for a senior citizen. Pets will receive undivided attention from their owners and won't be inclined to find refuge elsewhere. As seniors don't have any other commitments, they can care for their pets every waking minute of the day. Unlike their loved ones, pets will stay by their side and provide constant companionship. This will alleviate feelings of loneliness and depression and also boost their emotional well-being.

Not to mention, seniors receiving pet therapy don't feel socially cut off, which can be a source of constant stress. Stress can be crippling in old age and bring on a range of mental health problems. In fact, with a pet to keep them busy, they are likely to receive the necessary mental stimulation which keeps their mind sharp and alert, warding off age-related memory loss and other similar issues.

A Longer and Healthier Life

Generally, seniors who own a pet outlive the ones that don't. This is the effect of all the benefits mentioned in this section. As they start enjoying life more, seniors make more of an effort to stay healthy. The willingness to get better can prove the decisive factor and they are able to keep potential health problems away. Pet therapy has a positive impact on heart and mental health. A decline in mental health can lead to dementia and other disorders. Heart disease can be potentially fatal at this stage in life. Pet therapy can help minimize the risk of both.

Reclaiming Their Independence

One of the main reasons seniors resist moving to assisted living facilities is the feeling that they will lose their independence by doing so. Even if they are depending on others to get things done, they still want to live in their home, where they are free to move around. While assisted living homes provide them the perfect environment to live independently, some seniors do feel this is not the case. Pet therapy can help them reclaim their independence.

As they get healthier, more active and mentally alert, they require less supervision and assistance. This also benefits the facility, as the staff can cater to the needs of the disabled and other seniors who really need their help to perform daily tasks. This feeling of independence will boost their confidence, which is likely to have a positive impact on their mental health as well. All in all, seniors with pets will be happier and healthier than they are without pets.

Benefits for Assisted Living Facilities

A majority of seniors face the same issues as their fellow residents. If you introduce pet therapy for one patient, it is likely that the others will follow suit and soon you will be able to provide the residents a way to improve their quality of life and overall health. This will reduce your establishment's dependence on medical care and help you achieve your goals. By introducing pet therapy, you can improve the environment of your facility. This will definitely boost your reputation and have a positive impact on the bottom-line as well.

Conclusion

There is little doubt that the staff at assisted living facilities across the US is doing its best to provide the best care for their residents, some factors are beyond their control. If a senior is not willing to make an effort to get better, there is little they can do. This is why pet therapy is an important concept for seniors today. By introducing pet therapy at your facility, you can add 'life' to the lives of your residents. They will be encouraged and more inclined to take care of themselves and work towards improving their health and wellbeing.

The benefits of pet therapy for the seniors are numerous, as we have covered in the previous section. The only potential drawback is the responsibility which comes with introducing pets into the assisted living facility. But it's a small price to pay for improving the quality of life of your residents and helping them get healthier and happier. As an assisted living facility, there couldn't be anything better for you than to provide an environment where seniors feel welcome, at home, and at the same time, their health improves.

The bottom line is that pet therapy has been proven to have a positive impact on the quality of life for seniors. So, there is no valid reason why it shouldn't be introduced in assisted living facilities across the US. It's only a matter of taking the initiative.

- Author Gary Sinard is a research and acquisition specialist for a real estate development firm that specializes in seniors housing.

Source : articlesbase.com