Dogs Offer Many Benefits to Retirees Beyond Exercise
If you're in good health and have the financial means to support a pet, there are incredible benefits of dog ownership, no matter your age. For example, in addition to encouraging you to stay active, dogs provide companionship and alleviate loneliness. Another important benefit is that dogs become a focal point for our attention and require us to provide a certain amount of structure to each day.
Dogs are also something to touch, which can be especially beneficial for older folks who live alone. People derive comfort from the presence of a dog on their lap or lying next to them. Dogs also need to be cared for, and the act of nurturing a pet enhances emotional and physical relaxation.
Dogs are, of course, fun and funny, which can bring much-needed joy and laughter to the lives of seniors. In addition, studies show dog walkers are more likely to interact socially with other people when they're out and about with their pet.
Dogs Also Offer a Cure for Self-Absorption
Another reason a dog can have such a powerful influence on your health is because his presence pulls your attention away from yourself. One of the most effective ways to reduce stress and increase feelings of optimism is to focus on something other than you. This can be a struggle for people who sense their independence slipping away and who are also dealing with the physical limitations of an aging body.
A small research project conducted years ago in California illustrates how the presence of a pet influences several important aspects of life for people who are aging. Researchers recorded the casual conversations of senior citizens as they walked their dogs in a mobile home park.
All dog owners talked to and about their dogs. They gave their dogs instructions and used their names and nicknames frequently. The dogs caused their owners to stay in the present moment. This is often difficult for older people, who tend to think often about the past or worry obsessively about the future.
Other people out for walks talked to the owners about their dogs whether the dogs were present or not. The conversations of dog owners frequently were about things in the here and now, whereas non-dog owners focused on stories about past events.
Dog owners took twice as many daily walks on average as non-owners, and reported much less dissatisfaction with their social, physical and emotional states. This shows a healthy lack of self-absorption and a happier, healthier, more hopeful outlook.
Mills offers some great advice for seniors contemplating pet ownership: "If you'd like to get a dog, don't be put off by the fact you're elderly. It's good for the dog, and it's good for you," he says.
