The Influence of Pets on the Well-Being of Older People

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The Influence of Pets on the Well-Being of Older People

Cole, A. (2019). Grow old along with me: The meaning of dogs in seniors lives. International Journal of Community Well-Being, 2, 235-252.

This study explores the relationship between older dog owners and their pets. One of the main conclusions in the article is that the relationship between older people and dogs is reliable and friendly. One of the critical issues addressed by the authors is the separation of these people and dogs caused by relocation, health problems, or the death of pets. To solve these problems, it is necessary to develop a support system for the elderly. Now, for instance, there are community foundations and volunteer organizations which help older people. Their existence greatly facilitates the lives of older people and their care for pets. However, despite the doubts and negative emotions associated with the problems related to pets, older people note a significant positive effect of dogs on their lives.

Gee, N. R., Mueller, M. K., & Curl, A. L. (2017). Human-animal interaction and older adults: An overview. Frontiers in psychology, 8, 1416.

The authors of this article consider different types of interaction between older people and animals. First, animals can live at home (such as cats) or outside (such as horses). Second, older people also come into contact with animals during animal-assisted therapy. Therefore, people are aware of the need for older adults to contact animals and increase the number of these interactions. The authors assume that contact with animals has a positive effect on the cardiovascular system. This helps older people avoid diseases such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, cardiovascular reactivity, and others. Pet ownership also reduces depression and anxiety, which increase over the years. Physical activity related to pets (such as walking dogs) also has a positive effect on the health of older people. Thus, this study provides a detailed description of the positive impact of having pets on older people.

Enders-Slegers, M., & Hediger, K. (2019). Pet ownership and human-animal interaction in an aging population: Rewards and challenges. Anthrozoös, 32(2), 255-265.

The authors of this study consider both the positive aspects and the disadvantages and challenges associated with pet ownership. On the one hand, they mention the benefits of pets in the fight against various physical and mental diseases. They also state that pets help people adjust their daily routines, as they require constant attention. However, on the other hand, having a pet can adversely affect peoples financial situation. Pet care requires a lot of investment, and not always older people can afford it. In addition, family members of older people can often be opposed to having pets. Another significant drawback is the likelihood that older people will pay too much attention to the pet, forgetting about their well-being. Thus, despite all the advantages, pet ownership can lead to negative consequences.

Heuberger R. (2017). Associations of pet ownership with older adults eating patterns and health. Current Gerontology and Geriatrics Research, 2017. Web.

This study focuses on more specific groups of people, for example, comparing owners of cats and dogs. One of the crucial results was that dog owners are more active and open to social contacts. This is due to their need to spend time outside the house often, walking with a dog. In contrast, pet owners spend much more time at home because there is no such need for them and their pets. However, all pet owners have to devote a lot of time to caring for them and solving problems with their health. Despite this, this study confirms the theory of the beneficial effects of pets on older people. For example, these people can control their weight more successfully and take less medication. In addition, the author claims that pet owners feel less lonely than those who do not have any pets. All these factors favor the need for pets in single older adults.

Needell, N. J., & Mehta-Naik, N. (2016). Is pet ownership helpful in reducing the risk and severity of geriatric depression? Geriatrics, 1(4), 24.

This paper is a study of literary sources on the relationship between older people and their pets. The authors purpose is to find out whether the presence of a pet has a beneficial effect on human health. The authors found that, for example, the older a person becomes, the fewer animals affect their level of depression. Therefore, this problem requires other methods of solution. Another substantial disadvantage is the condition of the elderly after the death of pets. Many have difficulty surviving the loss, but in most cases, it is inevitable. The authors also inform readers about the significant costs associated with pets. However, in any case, the presence of a pet in most of the works listed by the authors is rather a positive phenomenon. They note the same benefits as other authors: socialization, physical activity, daily routines, and others. Thus, even despite the disadvantages, pet ownership helps older people with many everyday issues.

Toohey, A. M., Hewson, J. A., Adams, C. L., & Rock, M. J. (2018). Pets, social participation, and aging-in-place: Findings from the Canadian longitudinal study on aging. Canadian Journal on Aging, 37(2), 200-217.

The authors of this paper also conducted a study among many older adults, finding out how much pet ownership affects their well-being. According to the survey, a third of these people had a pet. As it turned out, people who have pets are less likely to participate in various social activities than those who do not have pets. However, these people noted the same level of satisfaction with social contacts and life in general as those who do not have pets. This suggests that, although pets take up a lot of time and effort, being close to them makes the existence of older people more enjoyable and meaningful. Thanks to this, they are not looking for entertainment or new acquaintances. They are already satisfied with what they have and who they care about. In addition, some people experiencing problems with socialization noted that having a pet provides support in this situation, which has a beneficial effect on the psychological state.

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