March 24, 2025
Most of us love being around animals—and many research studies show that owning a pet is beneficial for seniors. Here are some of the ways pets have been shown to improve the well-being of older adults:
Social opportunities. Animals bring people together. Few of us are comfortable starting a conversation with a stranger, but if the other person is walking a dog, it’s perfectly acceptable to compliment their pooch and ask its name. Chances are a nice chat will follow. Pets are also great for intergenerational connections.
Emotional benefits. Touching a warm, living creature, whether it’s a dog, cat, bunny or hamster, helps meet an important emotional need. Animals provide unconditional, nonjudgmental love. Taking care of a pet, whether one of the soft ones, or fish, or even a snake or tarantula, boosts self-esteem, and provides a sense of purpose—something that can be in short supply in our later years.
Stress reduction. Whether it’s petting a cat, playing catch with a dog, or watching fish swim in an aquarium, spending time with animals can reduce stress and anxiety. “The foundations of mindfulness include attention, intention, compassion, and awareness,” says Dr. Ann Berger of the National Institutes of Health. “All of those things are things that animals bring to the table. People kind of have to learn it. Animals do this innately.”
Motivation to exercise. Dogs need to walk, and they usually need people to do that with them! In 2017, the Gerontological Society of America reported, “Older adults who walked their dogs regularly were significantly more likely to meet recommended physical activity requirements than dog non-owners [and also] had greater functional ability than dog owners who did not walk their dog, and dog non-owners.”
A few words of caution
Seniors who own a pet or spend time with animals should consider these pet-related health and safety issues.
- Pets can be a fall risk. An enthusiastic dog can knock a frail senior off their feet. Or an elder could be pulled off balance while walking a dog, or trip over a cat in the home. Take precautions to avoid these falls, like putting a bell on a cat’s or a dog’s collar. If a dog is rambunctious, it’s time for obedience school.
- Pets may raise the risk of infection. Humans can catch a number of diseases from pets. People with a compromised immune system should discuss pets with their doctor; contact with some animals, reptiles in particular, may not be recommended. Be sure to see a vet regularly and give your pet the recommended immunizations. Wear protective gloves when changing the litter box, cleaning up after a dog, or cleaning an aquarium, and wash your hands afterwards.
- Pets might keep us up at night. Anyone who has a cat or dog probably knows that these companions can have a nocturnal nature. Dogs, cats and birds may disturb our sleep by making noise, jumping onto the bed, whining to go out in the middle of the night, and even snoring. On the other hand, having a pet sleeping in the same room can be comforting.
- Pets are a factor in allergies. Some people are allergic to certain animals, and allergies may worsen as we grow older. If you have allergies, do your homework before adopting a pet that you might fall in love with, only to have to rehome. Talk to your doctor if symptoms persist. If your grandchildren or other family members have pet allergies, that may make it hard for them to visit.
- Caring for a sick pet is stressful. Often as they grow older, pets will face health challenges of their own. This can cause stress for the owner and may also be expensive.
Pets can bring joy, companionship, and numerous health benefits to seniors, from reducing stress to encouraging social interactions and physical activity. With the right precautions, pets can be a valuable source of comfort and well-being in later life.
Source: IlluminAge AgeWise