Pet Therapy for Senior Citizens

Pet therapy has become more popular over time and has been shown to affect people differently. The idea behind pet therapy is that it can possibly affect the emotional, cognitive and social character of a person. There are many different types of pet therapy, and for seniors this therapy can be affective as well. Pet therapy for seniors may be effective in helping treat dementia, high blood pressure and other conditions that affect seniors. There are different types of therapy used according to the condition or disease that the senior encounters.

Pet therapy is ideal for senior patients because it is a mild form of therapy. Many seniors may have conditions and diseases that limit their level of activity, so bringing a pet to them to interact with is a good way to keep them involved. According to seniors.lovetoknow.com, pet therapy with kittens can be very affective. While pet therapy may not be for everyone, it has proven to provide good emotional benefits for the seniors involved. Many times it could be the cute, cuddly appearance of the kitten that just makes people smile, or the natural instinct of the kitten to be held and snuggled with just warms a senior's heart.

There are different methods of animal therapy for seniors and each method has been beneficial for seniors at some point. Visitation therapy is the most common because it is the easiest way to bring a pet to the senior. Usually this involves a volunteer bringing in a working dog to visit at the hospital or nursing home. This is very beneficial for the senior from a social standpoint, but visitation allows them to enjoy the company of the pet without having to worry about cleaning up litter or using a pooper scooper. The working animal is facilitated by its owner or trainer.

Ownership therapy is another method by which pets can be invaluable to a senior's health. The senior having a companion is critical so that they don't feel so alone. They have something that they need to care for, and relies on them for love and attention. According to everydayhealth.com, the draw from depression is well worth it. Having a pet around encourages the senior adult to not feel so alone. The age of the senior adult and their living conditions will warrant careful choosing of a pet. The ability of the senior to walk a dog, clean litter pans, and just give daily food and water should all be considered before getting a pet.

Lastly, animal-assisted therapy is now becoming a well known technique. More sensitive animals like horses and dolphins are used in this technique to get the senior adult involved physically. Getting someone to move and not live a sedentary life no matter what age is usually good for an individual, although the level of physical activity should be approved by the senior's physician.

An article on essortment.com, tells a story about an Alzheimer's patient that responded to pet therapy. These patients tend to get agitated at night, a well known condition called "sundowning". Lack of sunlight tends to naturally depress people as the darkness sets in. With the dementia, and the feeling of being unaware, the senior adult will often respond to the comforting presence of a pet even if they don't respond well to other treatments.

Overall, it seems that pet therapy for seniors is worth a shot, but there is no guarantee. Talk to your adult senior's doctor today, and see what your options are.

Mvantz
Pet Therapy-Love to Know
www.seniors.lovetoknow.com

Dennis Thompson
Pet Therapy and Depression
www.everydayhealth.com

Debra Stang
Pet Therapy: animal therapy for alzheimers and other elderly patients
www.essortment.com