Companion Pets for Seniors & Retirees
There is no question that life's patterns change dramatically when the "R word" comes a-tapping at your door: retirement! It sneakily tiptoes into your life and greedily takes up residence, while it shoos out the door a few other R words: regularity, routine, rush hour, and reveille.
Yes, they all scamper away, and yes again, the timbre of life changes radically with this new chapter in life — a chapter that will include a few other R words: replenishment, rejiggering, and reassessment!
Viewing retirement as a blessing and a gateway to fresh vistas takes a shift in attitude — to see retirement as a time to relish the joys of new routines, with far more elasticity, and another R word: rewards! With more flexible time to turn into meaningful, and perhaps even magical, experiences, this is arguably the perfect opportunity to consider becoming a pet owner. There is no debate about the bountiful benefits a feline or canine companion brings to its humans, especially senior citizens. But living on a fixed income can also mean finances are constrained when it comes to unexpected emergency veterinary bills. That's where Waggle steps in to help.
The Benefits of Cats or Dogs for Seniors
Dr. Marwan Sabbagh, director of the Cleveland Clinic's Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health notes, “Simply petting an animal can decrease the level of the stress hormone cortisol and boost release of the neurotransmitter serotonin, resulting in lowered blood pressure and heart rate and, possibly, in elevated mood." These are but a few of the reasons that pets make excellent companions for seniors. Furry friends invite a hard-to-find commodity -- tranquility -- to enter and settle into your daily life: Petting a dog or a cat is soothing, reassuring, calming.
"Simply put, the issue isn't the question, "Should seniors have pets?" but rather, it is a statement, "Why seniors should have pets."
Human devotion to a pet is also reciprocal; there is great comfort in the consistent companionship of a dog or cat. Regardless of your mood or feelings, a four-legged friend is simply always there for you. While elderly people assuredly suffer from many more physical ailments than their younger counterparts, a very common problem among older adults is less tangible: loneliness that can stem from fewer social interactions. It is often a short hop from sad feelings to a more serious depression. Having a pet can help countervail feelings of seclusion and isolation, preventing that gnawing ache from swirling into the deeper abyss of feeling overwhelmed and depressed.
Cleveland Clinic's Health Issues cites an Australian study of 199 patients "who were dealing with mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder," and it was noted that 94% reported a "reduction of anxiety through tactile stimulation" thanks to a psychiatric assistance dog. Likewise, Health Issues states, the British journal Aging & Mental Health found, in a survey of 14 community-dwelling adults aged 65 and older, "that pets might benefit them by providing comfort and safety, social inclusion and participation, purposeful routine and structure, and a meaningful role." Additionally, "[t]hese benefits may also increase resilience in older adults against mental health disorders, which may positively influence their mental health outcomes."
"These benefits may also increase resilience in older adults against mental health disorders, which may positively influence their mental health outcomes."
Adding more support to the argument of why pets are a good choice for seniors, the University of Michigan/AARP 2019 National Poll on Healthy Aging surveyed 2,051 adults between the ages of 50 and 80, more than half of whom had a pet. Among the pet guardians, the reported findings included:
- 79% said their pet helped reduce their stress.
- 86% said their pets made them feel loved.
- 88% indicated that their pets helped them enjoy life.
What Kind of Pet Is a Good Choice for Seniors?
We have mostly been targeting furry, four-legged friends, but it is worth pointing out that other types of pets can also be excellent companions for seniors. Caregiving is required whether the pet is a bird, a fish, a hamster, a rabbit, or a kitten. The bond with an animal fills many roles and plugs up a hole in the fabric of life that has been ripped apart. If it is support you need when you are feeling down, an animal can provide that emotional uplift, and certainly companion dogs, even more than other pets, can provide the unconditional love that is so cherished by anyone who has ever had the pleasure of being a guardian to a canine.
What Type of Pet Do You Want? Do You Need?
Before you limit your search to just felines and canines, take a moment to consider rabbits, fish, birds, and other pets. SeniorAdvisor.com has compiled a list of the top types of pets for seniors; it is worth looking at the findings. It is not surprising that, in decreasing order of popularity, you'll find dogs, cats, rabbits, fish, and birds.
If you have limited your options to canines and felines, then the Waggle team has put together some information about popular breeds of cats and dogs for seniors. Whatever you settle on depends on your personal circumstances. For a quick take on the debate, consider that dogs are usually far more interactive with their human companions (obsequious might even be a better word); they live to please you, while cats expect you to please them! But cats do not require daily walks outdoors, and as long as you are able to keep the litter box clean, you have that added benefit of easy tidying-up — no "bathroom" trips outdoors. On the other hand, just getting outdoors a few times a day provides the benefit of daily exercise. Indeed, daily dog walks are highly beneficial for seniors' physical health.
"The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends for senior adults, aged 65 and older, 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity. Perhaps 30 minutes a day, five days a week."
Walking a dog three times a day, while not high-intensity aerobic exercise, is, at least, activity, and it gets a senior out of the house and interacting with others, because a dog is a very good calling card and icebreaker.
What Are the Best Breeds of Dogs for Seniors?
The American Kennel Club tells us there are over 340 dog breeds in the world, of which the Club recognizes 197. Of course, unrecognized by the Club is the Heinz 57 variety — a mutt, a mix, a mongrel, in common parlance, but a thoroughbred in its own right, of course! Especially to the senior who is fortunate enough to be that dog's guardian.
Some Breed Recommendations for Seniors Looking to Adopt a Dog
APlaceForMom.com has put together a list of dogs that are the most popular and, arguably, the best breeds for seniors. The site has broken down all the details you need to know for each breed. Recommended breeds include: Boston Terrier, Poodle, Miniature Schnauzer, Pug, French Bulldog, and Pomeranian. Additionally, the following breeds are also highly recommended, as a second-tier list: Shih Tzu, Maltese, Beagle, Chihuahua, Yorkshire Terrier, and Cocker Spaniel.
There are other practical concerns, like whether the breed requires professional grooming. This holds true for cats as well as dogs. Dogs with hair (like Poodles) and not fur, which is what most dogs have, do not shed but can require regular grooming maintenance. You must also consider your tolerance for home hygiene: Do you want a small dog that can be trained to use a wee-wee pad?
Before settling on a breed, a senior who is looking to adopt a dog must consider:
- Are you prepared for the responsibility of being the caregiver for another sentient being?
- How much time do you have for caregiving?
- How much room do you have for an animal?
- What energy level do you want in your companion? (Remember, puppies are tremendous fun, but they are also a great deal of work. Breeds like the devilishly smart Australian Shepherd require plenty of exercise and stimulation.)
- Are you an active senior? What energy level do you have, and do you have mobility issues? Do you want a somewhat sedentary lapdog?
- What is your patience level? It should be high if you are going to train a dog. (Training, not coincidentally, is a great bonding activity, but while extremely gratifying, it requires time and diligence.)
- What is the life expectancy and general health of the breed? (For example, Golden Retrievers have a high incidence of cancer.)
- Are children going to be visiting you a great deal? Are you living in a retirement community or a multi-generational household?
- Are you realistic about the financial expenditure required of being a pet guardian?
The Cost of Caring for a Pet May Be a Hardship for Seniors on a Fixed Income
The last consideration is dollars and cents — after you have thought through the other kind of "sense," the considerations that work for you. ASPCA Pet Health Insurance breaks down costs for dogs and cats, not only for that first year, when there are many more expenses, but also for the average year. A typical first year, according to a July 2021 article on CNET, includes the "start-up" fee of adopting a pet — between $500 and $1,000 for a dog and somewhere around $600 for a cat. Expect that the first year could be costly, even as much as $1,500. If you include other one-time expenses for that initial year, such as training or spaying/neutering, then you are looking at $1,500 to $2,000. After that, costs should range between $700 to $1,100 annually.
Pet Emergencies: How Waggle Can Help Seniors with Pets
Alas, there are always unexpected emergencies: Sparky got into the trashcan and ate a corncob, or Fluffy lost a tooth and the vet says he needs serious dental work. Here is where Waggle is at its best, to be your partner in plugging up the dam of cash outflow. We provide a rich resource library with helpful information, as well as links to many other animal welfare organizations' websites that can help with unexpected costs for emergency veterinary services.
We can help connect you with not-for-profit groups that can provide pet assistance for seniors — sometimes for specific breeds. Or they may provide financial aid in particular geographic regions or help with individual diseases and conditions.
Posting your campaign on the Waggle platform may well result in 100% coverage for you, as other like-minded animal lovers come to our site to see what campaigns they can donate to. Our pioneering crowdfunding platform provides hope: Just look at the many Waggle success stories here. You may also discover when you look at the many campaigns on Waggle that you want to help another two-legged pet guardian who needs assistance with a four-legged one!
Contributions to the Waggle FurEver Fund help countless animals whose cases are posted on our site. Donating to a desperate animal's campaign is completely transparent at Waggle: The funds raised for a particular animal go directly to the treating veterinary hospital, not the individual.
What we are all about at Waggle is sparking hope that leads to happy endings. Please join us as we wag our tails with delight, knowing we are keeping pet guardians and their cherished companion animals together for a healthy forever.