For those looking for an improved outlook on life and better health, there’s one prescription you can’t get at the doctor’s office: a companion animal.
Studies show that pets are good medicine. Indeed, evidence just keeps mounting that shows pets can contribute to physical, emotional, social and cognitive health.
A senior group, Volunteers for America, says that in their physical role, pets give their human friends increased exercise, sensory stimulation, decreased blood pressure, the comfort of touch and diversion from pain. Heart attack patients with pet companions survive longer than those without, according to several studies. Men who own pets have lower triglyceride and cholesterol levels than non-owners, according to Australian researchers.
Studies by Dr. Lynette Hart of the U.C. Davis School of Veterinary Medicine have shown that Alzheimer’s patients have fewer anxious outbursts if there is an animal in the home.
In another study, Judith Siegel, a U.C. epidemiologist, found that among 1,000 Medicare recipients, 40 percent of the elderly who owned dogs sought the services of a doctor far less often than those who had no animal companions.
As part of its medical screening, Midland Life Insurance Co. of Columbus, Ohio, asks clients over the age of 75 if they have a pet. Pet ownership often helps tip the scales in favor of older clients looking for life or long-term care insurance, according to a spokesman for the company.
Several national programs, including Silver Paws in Canada and the Senior Companion Animal Program in California, recognize the special bonds between seniors and their pets. Both make a concerted effort to help keep seniors and their pets together.
Dr. Richard Speck, veterinarian at the Animal Protective League’s Low-Cost Spay and Neuter Clinic in Springfield, Ill., thinks pairing senior people with senior animals is a good idea.
“It’s a wonderful match. A lot of seniors cannot handle a puppy or kitten. Many older dogs have good manners; they are housebroken, and many can walk on a leash,” Speck says.
Bill and Joan McCue are seniors who have adopted two senior animals — Peaches and Foxy — from the APL. Both small dogs have golden-brown fur, big brown eyes and an obvious attachments to the McCues. The McCues don’t know anything about the dogs’ backgrounds or how they came to be homeless.
When they were at Ace Hardware one weekend, APL was having an adoption event. That’s where they saw Foxy and fell in love with her, even though Foxy is a bit of a senior herself.
Then the McCues saw Peaches, who is deaf and has failing eyesight. “She was a mess and needed all sorts of treatments before she could come live with us,” Joan said.
Still, “Foxy and Peaches got along right away,” Joan said. “Peaches seems to understand what we expect of her. Foxy goes outside with Peaches as her protector and helps her bark.”
Peaches is thriving in her new, loving home. “Peaches has gained so much weight she now has to wear Foxy’s coat,” Joan says.
The McCues strongly encourage others to adopt pets. They notice people, even in their own neighborhood, who have lost a spouse and seem lonely.
“It’s so sad. They go out to eat three times a day, for breakfast, lunch and dinner. If they had a companion, maybe they could stay in sometimes,” Joan says.
“One of the many reasons older people should do this is it gives them a reason to get up even when you have aches and pains,” she continued. “Then, pretty soon you don’t have as many aches and pains. When you don’t feel good, they’re always right there with you.”