Golden Companions: Pet Ownership for Seniors

In your golden years, your quality of life is often a reflection of your connections to the world around you. These ties — to your community, philanthropic causes or other interests — give your life meaning as you transition to a new stage of life. Social connections and companionship are also essential to your sense of personal fulfillment as you age.

Human interaction plays a vital role in your overall well-being, but you might not realize that pets can also be an important source of companionship for seniors.

Benefits of Pets for Seniors

If you’ve seen research on the correlation between physical and mental wellness, it’s easy to understand why pets are so good for seniors. Having a pet can help keep loneliness at bay and provide a sense of purpose that prevents depression from creeping up on you.

The responsibility of caring for a pet puts your cognitive skills to work, and the routine of pet care can help provide structure to your days. What’s more, some research has even shown heart health benefits of pet companionship for seniors who are soothed by the simple, repetitive act of stroking a pet’s fluffy fur.

Any pet requires a degree of physical activity to feed and maintain their living environment, but dog owners tend to especially benefit from increased fitness levels as a result of walks, trips outside for potty breaks and games of fetch.

Living in a pet-friendly senior living community puts you at an extra advantage since not only do you get to enjoy your pet’s company, but you can also bond with fellow pet parents while visiting the dog park or walking your four-legged friend.

Choosing the Right Pet

Choosing the ideal senior-friendly pet is an intensely personal decision, and ultimately it may come down to which sweet face stares up at you and steals your heart. However, it’s worth giving some consideration to how a pet will fit into your lifestyle, remembering that owning a pet is a lifetime commitment.

As a senior enjoying the freedom of retirement living, you’ll likely be most attracted to lower-maintenance pet options.

Fish are relatively low maintenance, and watching fish flit around an aquarium can provide hours of relaxing entertainment. On the downside, you won’t have any snuggle time — or much personal interaction at all. Maintaining a healthy tank can also be a bigger chore than you might anticipate.

Birds add cheerful sounds and lively colors to your home, and some can even be trained to “converse” with you. You might find birds slightly more interactive as they become tamer, but some owners worry about letting them fly around the house since they can easily escape through an open door. Cages require regular cleaning, but the work is generally fairly simple.

Cats are a popular choice for seniors because they tend to be quite self-sufficient. Except with certain breeds, they require little grooming. While they do need ample space to move and play, they don’t require any exercise outside the home. Most cats know to avoid overeating, so you can set out food and water and take a short trip without worry about your pet while you’re gone. Two common pitfalls with cats are their notoriously independent personalities, which can be a disappointment if you’re looking for lots of cuddles, and litter box care (although self-cleaning models can make this less of a chore).

Dogs tend to be among the most interactive and affectionate pet options, but they also require the most work. You can look forward to happy greetings every time you come home, and most dogs prefer to stay close to their humans. However, dogs require daily exercise and multiple potty breaks each day. For those reasons, they shouldn’t be left alone for extended periods. Your time commitment for other care needs, such as grooming, depends on the breed you choose.

Seniors looking for companionship from a pet should also consider:

Age: Bringing home an adorable puppy or kitten can be lots of fun, and it’s a good opportunity to instill good manners from the get-go. However, a puppy or kitten requires a great deal more time and attention to keep it out of trouble and prevent messes. Adult dogs and seniors, especially those in shelters, have a lot of love left to give and can be a great option for a senior. If you’re concerned about training issues, look into resources that might help and learn all you can about a potential adult pet’s background and breed before committing.

Breed: Not all breeds of dogs and cats are well suited to a senior lifestyle. Generally, smaller dogs that require less exercise do better in senior apartments. It’s also smart to explore a breed’s unique needs related to grooming, temperament and overall health.

Source: With shelters from coast to coast filled with animals needing a loving home, you can add a companion to your household while doing a good deed. Adopting from shelters or rescue organizations helps free up resources so they can help more animals in need.

Caring for Your Pet

A pet is a living creature that deserves your attentive care to thrive. That means providing well-balanced nutrition that provides your pet with all the nutrients it needs as it grows and matures. Most pets also require regular veterinary visits for preventive care and vaccinations against disease.

Before bringing home your pet, look into the types of exercise and mental stimulation your pet needs to remain healthy and prevent boredom, which can lead to destructive behaviors. This includes considering the seasonal changes in your area and how you’ll handle seasonal pet care during extreme conditions (e.g., how will you handle potty breaks when temps hover well below freezing?).

It's also a good idea to explore your options if you’re no longer able to care for your pet properly. A loved one may be able to help with care while allowing you to keep your beloved pet, or you may be able to arrange for regular visits. If that’s not an option, rescue groups in your area may provide alternatives.

Resources for Senior Pet Owners

Fortunately, numerous resources for senior pet owners are available in the Kankakee area, including the highly-rated Kankakee Animal Hospital and 4 Paws Pet Clinic.

You’ll also find a good selection of retail stores where you can stock up on pet supplies. Several of these are large chains, where you can join loyalty programs to earn rewards and discounts. Online ordering and subscription services can also make it easy to keep up with your pet’s ongoing needs, such as food and treats. If you prefer to shop local, pet hot spots nearby include the Razzle Dazzle Doggie Bow-tique and Bubbles and Barks Dog Grooming.

Sites like Bring Fido will also help you find restaurants, activities and events where your pet is welcome. The River Run Dog Park is a local favorite if your pooch wants to make friends and does well around other dogs.

In addition, River Valley Animal Rescue operates a shelter with adoptable pets, as well as a boarding facility. This no-kill shelter also accepts surrenders from pet owners who can no longer care for their pets, but it’s on a space-available basis and requires a fee. Other prominent shelters in the area include Kankakee County Animal Control and Kankakee County Humane Foundation.

At Riverside Senior Life Communities, we recognize the many advantages of pet companionship for seniors. Make plans to visit and be sure to ask for a tour of our pet-friendly amenities, including our inviting dog park.