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Fortunately, many senior living com-
munities are on board with this service
and even have a pet care coordinator at
their communities to help make sure all
the pets are well cared for and are up-to-
date on vaccines and veterinary care.
This ensures the pets are groomed, fed,
walked and happy when they otherwise
wouldn’t be if the senior is not able to
perform these responsibilities.
For seniors, the benefits of a furry com-
Meet Louise…Louise is the Smile and panion can be life-changing. Walking a
Pet Therapist at Morningside of Ander- dog is great cardiovascular exercise, but
son. Louise spends her time greeting, just the simple act of caring for a pet
visiting and loving on the residents. – petting, brushing, feeding – provides
Read below on how pet therapy has both mild activity and a means to stay
made an impact in the senior living engaged with the world. Pets can make
industry.
the elderly feel needed, and that feeling
It doesn’t take a scientist to know that can translate into a greater sense of pur-
pets make humans feel good; anyone pose and self-worth. During what can be
who’s ever stroked a dog’s fur or felt a a lonely time of life, the unconditional
cat’s thrumming purr knows this. love of a cherished dog or cat can be a
Science can, however, tell us how and bridge to more socialization with others,
why pets can be therapeutic. Just 15 lowered stress, mental stimulation and a
minutes bonding with an animal sets renewed interest in life.
off a chemical chain reaction in the In the past, a move to a nursing home
brain, lowering levels of the fight-or- or retirement community meant giving
flight hormone cortisol and increasing up this important bond with the animal
production of the feel-good hormone world. While many retirement com-
serotonin. The result: heart rate, blood munities, assisted living facilities and
pressure and stress levels immediately nursing homes still don’t allow pets, it’s
drop. Over the long term, pet and hu- great that many of these assisted living
man interactions can lower cholesterol communities have decided to integrate
levels, fight depression and may even pets into their communities, as the pet
help protect against heart disease and therapy benefits to the elderly is over-
stroke. This is why pets for the elderly whelming.
can be so beneficial. Continued on page 68