Page 8 - Possible Magazine Issue 8 EMAG

THE PURR-FECT COMPANION
1. PETSDECREASESTRESS
Stroking a favourite feline friend or gazing at birds flocking over gently swaying trees, you may notice a sense of calm.
Maybe it’s their ability to distract you from life’s problems, or provide the comfort that you are not alone, but studies show pet owners are less stressed. Interestingly, but perhaps not surprisingly, it’s also been found that spending time with animals after a stressful incident can be more soothing than spending time with spouses, family members or friends.
Cat owners particularly
should reap the benefits. Each
15- to 30-minute cat interaction, reportedly leads to a rise in serotonin production,01 the chemical that makes you happy. Watching birds from a windowsill or balcony has been linked with lower levels of depression and anxiety.02 Similar wellbeing benefits can be found watching fish in a home aquarium. They hold our attention in the same calming way that mindfulness activities do.03
The calming nature of animals has been noted by the medical community too, which increasingly incorporate animal-assisted therapy into treatment programs, including chemotherapy and post-traumatic stress disorder treatment.
2. COMPANIONSHIP
Social support isn’t just limited to spending time with people. Someone to spend time with, talk to and experience moments with, is a basic human need that pets can fill too. According to a poll by the University of Michigan, companionship is the number one reason an older person decides to get a pet.04
There is a broad range of research establishing the positive correlation between pets and a decrease in loneliness, depression, anxiety and other mood disorders. Cuddle therapy – time spent holding small animals like guinea pigs, small dogs or cats – can provide more satisfaction than spending time with other people.
For people with dementia or Alzheimer’s, dogs can be trained to give more than emotional support. Service dogs remind their owners to take their medication, prepare something to eat or stay safe in their homes.05 Dogs and cats are also common cohabitants in assisted living facilities, stimulating residents and improving morale.
3. AREASONTOEXERCISE
Taking a dog for a morning or evening stroll gives owners a reason to get out and about. Unsurprisingly, it’s dogs that lead to the highest increase in exercise levels. Studies on the physical benefits of owning
a dog have found that their masters are more likely to exercise, maintain healthy weight levels and be mobile in their home.06
One thing to be cautious of, particularly with dogs, is that the size of your pet doesn’t overwhelm you.
Good training – or choosing an older dog with energy levels that match yours – helps to ensure a dog is a good fit. If mobility is an issue,
a cat, bird or fish could be a better option.
4. AREASONTOBESOCIAL
From meet-ups in the park and online community groups, to regular interactions with vets, pet stores or groomers, owners find new social circles with a common interest: their pets. One interesting study found that people who used wheelchairs received more smiles and conversation with strangers if they were accompanied by a dog.07
8 — JUST BETTER CARE
POSSIBLE