The Benefit of Pets for the Elderly

Pet ownership by the elderly has been found to improve the health and well-being of these senior citizens. The dependence and companionship of a pet for an elderly person can fill a void and give them a reason to get out of bed in the morning.

From my own experience, the activities of my parents dog Heidi, often gives them a new story to tell.

There are various organization used to provide pet interaction with nursing home residents. Volunteers bring well-trained pets into the nursing home and allow them to interact with residents. This pet therapy has been shown to reduce stress in nursing home residents.