Have you ever thought of visiting your loved one with a pet?
The truth is pets are more than just cute and fun creatures; they can also improve your health in many ways, like by lowering stress, putting you in a better mood and helping you feel more social support.1
In fact, at Wellington Estates you can even get pet therapy.
Health Benefits of Pets
Here are some health benefits of pets, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
· Lower levels of cholesterol
· Decreased blood pressure
· Lower triglyceride levels
· You get more opportunities for outdoor exercise
· You’re less likely to feel lonely
But not all pets are the same when it comes to your health.
We’ll explore a domestic pet commonly found in assisted living communities: the dog.
Dogs
According to Harvard Health Publishing, one of the primary health benefits of having a dog is a healthier heart. Apparently this is due to several factors, including:
· Exercise – Exercise is important for good heart health, and attending to a dog requires getting quite a bit of exercise. Although visiting your loved one from time-to-time may not produce this effect, getting out for a walk may still be an option.
· Calming – A dog can have a calming effect which can lower blood pressure.
· Touch – Studies have shown that petting a dog, which involves touch, brings blood pressure down.
Another finding2 on dog ownership has shown that owning a dog lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease and all-cause death.
The study didn’t investigate dog visits but who knows?
Fortunately, bringing pets to assisted living facilities is becoming a reality for many residents in need.
According to SeniorAcvice.com:
“More and more senior assisted living facilities are adopting a pet-friendly policies [sic]. The list of communities jumping on the trend is only growing. As more research into the positive benefits that pets can have on seniors continues to come out more and more assisted living facilities are becoming pet-friendly.”
Have you ever witnessed how dogs improve health?
Please share in the comments below.