Pet companionship appears to confer a host of health and emotional benefits for the elderly population, a group that is traditionally more susceptible to health problems. Studies have shown senior pet owners enjoy better health and require fewer doctor visits.
Even highly stressed seniors who own dogs were shown to have 21 percent fewer doctor visits than people without pets. The benefits for the aging shown in studies have been in the areas of emotional and mental health as well as cardio-vascular health.
Emotional and Mental Health
Pets can provide a variety of benefits for maintaining emotional and mental health among the aging. Pets reduce loneliness and provide companionship. They return love which satisfies the human need for emotional connections and relationships. Pets help seniors feel safe and calm. They improve self-esteem and morale by owners who feel a sense of responsibility for another living creature. Their companionship offers comfort to individuals who have recently lost spouses.
Cardio-Vascular Health
Studies have illustrated a connection between pet companionship and lower blood pressure with a resulting lower risk for heart attacks and strokes. A UCLA study presented to the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions showed that contact with dogs helped improve heart and lung function in people with heart failure. The 2005 study was presented to the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions. A more recent study showed that cat owners have a reduced risk of having and dying of a heart attack, according to a University of Minnesota Stroke Clinic in Minneapolis 2008 study.
These and other studies have shown that caring for and stroking pets can reduce blood pressure perhaps by reducing stress and anxiety, thereby reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Caring for and exercising pets provides a reason for increased movement an exercise among elderly pet owners which promotes heart health.
Sources:
Siegel, Judith M. , Stressful life events and the use of physician services among the elderly: the moderating effects of pet ownership ( UCLA study of Medicare enrollees), Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, June 1990.
“Pet Ownership Reduces Stress and Physician Visits Among Elderly,” Healthline, October 1990.
Stress affects your pet’s health in many ways. Stress affects the health of your pet’s cardiovascular, digestive, and immune systems. It can cause a pet to pluck out his feathers or lick out his fur. It can cause your pet to chew up your expensive shoes, and claw and spray your furniture. Chewing, clawing, over-grooming, overly aggressive behavior, spraying, and even an overly excited greeting can be signs that your pet is stressed.
It is stressful, even for domestic animals, to conform to behavior rules and environments imposed by human beings. It is helpful to remember that the behavior rules and expectations you have for your pet may be unnatural behavior for that animal.
There are many situations that can affect your pet’s level of stress and consequently his health. These situations may include a trip to the vet, an overnight stay at a kennel, being left at home alone for long periods, traveling in the car, the presence of other animals, changes of schedule, visitors who don’t like pets, certain forms of punishment and strange animals in the vicinity.
If you know the causes of stress in your pets’ life, you can keep him healthier and happier, and it may help you unravel certain health and behavioral mysteries that you have never been able to understand before. When you understand the behaviors and physical symptoms that indicate when your pet is under too much stress you will be able to take steps to relieve his stress.
Many stress-related health problems and behaviors can be reduced or eliminated through adequate exercise, proper diet and nutrition, a calm and predictable home environment and adequate companionship. You can learn more about these topics on other pages of this web site
They return love which satisfies the human need for emotional connections and relationships. Pets help seniors feel safe and calm. They improve self-esteem and morale by owners who feel a sense of responsibility for another living creature. Their companionship offers comfort to individuals who have recently lost spouses. 
There are many situations that can affect your pet’s level of stress and consequently his health. These situations may include a trip to the vet, an overnight stay at a kennel, being left at home alone for long periods, traveling in the car, the presence of other animals, changes of schedule, visitors who don’t like pets, certain forms of punishment and strange animals in the vicinity.
Many stress-related health problems and behaviors can be reduced or eliminated through adequate exercise, proper diet and nutrition, a calm and predictable home environment and adequate companionship. You can learn more about these topics on other pages of this web site