Discover Smith Mountain Lake
SPRING 2016
8
Recently, medical science has begun acknowledging what animal lovers around the globe have
known all along. Animals make us feel good.
For the senior citizen living alone, the daily caring for a pet can be the remedy for loneliness
and isolation. The seniors of today were once active individuals taking care of families, going
to jobs and volunteering in their communities. Few
believed their golden years would be anything but
a wonderful extension of the life they shared with
loved ones.
Andwhile some seniors have very active lives and full
schedules with families and friends to visit, others
are not as fortunate. Some seniors are homebound,
or have no family at all. For a life with little focus
outside oneself, days can be very long and with it
comes the danger of depression settling in.
By adopting a companion animal, the senior cannot
help but retain a more positive outlook. When one
lives with a pet, and is involved with the pets’ daily
needs, the focus naturally shifts from “me” to “we.”
After all, when something LIVE is depending on you
to being fed, walked, or cleaned, there is less time to
think, worry or obsess about yourself.
There have been numerous studies done with regard
to the benefits of living with pets. Studies report
that people residing with animals have lower blood
pressure, take less medication, and generally enjoy a
feeling of well being.
The growing trend in the senior housing market
acknowledges the deep bond animals and humans
have. So much so that facilities are now open to the
idea of letting residents bring their animals with
them. The upside is that facilities do not miss out on
a large population of seniors they would not have
attracted before.
However, if the senior lives alone, there are several
things they need to consider before adopting a pet.
Be honest about your lifestyle, health and physical abilities. Will you be able to walk a dog on a
leash or will your dog need a yard to come and go as he pleases? Would changing a litter box be
preferable to changing a bird cage or would watching fish swim in a tank suffice?
SENIORSADOPTINGSENIORS
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BY DIANE NOVAK
Important questions a senior should ask
him or herself before adopting a pet:
1. Can you easily and without burden afford
pet food and yearly visits to the vet?
2. Is there a friend or relative nearby who can
look in on the animal if you take a vacation
or have an unexpected hospital stay?
3. Are you willing to commit to an animal for
the remainder of his or her life?
4. Do you have a plan for your pet if s/he out
lives you?
If you answered yes to all four questions, you
are ready to bring a furry or feathered friend
into your home. So hold on tight, and get
ready for a beautiful ride into unconditional
love prescribed in perfect doses.
