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The benefits of pets for older people

For many older people, especially those who live alone, the primary benefit of pet ownership is companionship. A much-loved animal is an effective antidote to loneliness, which can be one of the most destructive aspects of life as we age.

Caring for a pet provides structure to the day: a person needs to get up in the morning to check and feed their pet, and perhaps also to groom or exercise it.

Animals also facilitate social contact – whether walking a dog, or shopping for pet food it is easy for neighbours and passers-by to chat with people about their pets.

Not surprisingly, recent research has confirmed that pets can provide both physical and psychological benefits to an older person. These include:

• companionship and loyalty
• the alleviation of loneliness and depression
• reduced stress
• the stability of a daily routine
• a reason to remain independent for as long as possible
• increased exercise
• better health (eg, lower blood pressure and quicker recovery after illness)
• a feeling of security, especially for a person living on their own