Poll: Pets help older adults cope with health issues, get active and connect with others

For some, time commitment, cost and allergies stand in the way of pet ownership

April 3, 2019

Science Daily/Michigan Medicine - University of Michigan

Pets help older adults cope with mental and physical health issues, according to a new national poll. But pets can also bring concerns, and some people may even put their animals' needs ahead of their own health, the poll finds. Three-quarters of pet owners aged 50 to 80 say their animals reduce their stress and give them a sense of purpose. But 18 percent also said having one puts a strain on their budget.

A curled-up cat, a tail-wagging dog, a chirping parakeet or even a serene goldfish may help older adults cope with mental and physical health issues, according to a new national poll.

While pets come with benefits, they can also bring concerns, and some people may even put their animals' needs ahead of their own health, the poll finds.

In all, 55 percent of adults ages 50 to 80 have a pet, according to the new findings -- and more than half of those have multiple pets. More than three-quarters of pet owners say their animals reduce their stress, and nearly as many say pets give them a sense of purpose. But 18 percent also said having a pet or pets puts a strain on their budget.

Two-thirds of all pet owners, and 78 percent of dog owners, said their pet helps them be physically active, according to the new findings from the National Poll on Healthy Aging. The poll is conducted by the University of Michigan Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, and sponsored by AARP and Michigan Medicine, U-M's academic medical center.

For those who reported that their health was fair or poor, pet ownership appeared to offer even more benefits. More than 70 percent of these older adults said their pet helps them cope with physical or emotional symptoms, and 46 percent said their pets help take their mind off of pain.

"We have long known that pets are a common and naturally occurring source of support," says Cathleen Connell, Ph.D., a professor at the U-M School of Public Health who has studied the role of companion animals in older adults' lives. "Although the benefits of pets are significant, social connections and activities with friends and family are also key to quality of life across the lifespan. Helping older adults find low cost ways to support pet ownership while not sacrificing other important relationships and priorities is an investment in overall mental and physical health."

Poll director Preeti Malani, M.D., who has training in caring for older adults, says the poll results indicates a need for physicians and other health care providers to ask older adults about the role of pets in their lives.

"More activity, through dog walking or other aspects of pet care, is almost always a good thing for older adults. But the risk of falls is real for many, and six percent of those in our poll said they had fallen or injured themselves due to a pet," she says. "At the same time, given the importance of pets to many people, the loss of a pet can deal a very real psychological blow that providers, family and friends should be attuned to."

"This study highlights the many physical, psychological, and social benefits that pets can have for older adults," says Alison Bryant, Ph.D., senior vice president of research for AARP. "In recognition of these health benefits, more assisted living facilities today are allowing residents to have pets."

Pet positives

Companionship and social connection were positive side effects of pet ownership for many poll respondents.

In fact, more than half of those who owned pets said they did so specifically to have a companion -- and a slightly higher percentage said their pets sleep in bed with them. Sixty-five percent of pet owners said having a pet helps connect them to other people, too.

"Relationships with pets tend to be less complicated than those with humans, and pets are often a source of great enjoyment," says Mary Janevic, Ph.D., M.P.H., an assistant research scientist at the U-M School of Public Health who helped design the poll. "They also provide older adults with a sense of being needed and loved."

Pet problems

Other concerns about pet ownership emerged in the poll results. More than half of pet owners said that having a pet also made it difficult to travel or enjoy activities outside the home.

And one in six said that they put their pet's needs ahead of their own health needs -- a figure that was closer to one in four among those with health issues.

"Later life is often a time when people have more freedom to travel, and a long list of things they want to do with their free time, and sometimes having a pet can get in the way,"says Janevic. "For people living on a fixed income, expenses related to health care for pets, and especially pets that have chronic health issues, can be a struggle. Older adults can also develop health problems or disabilities that make pet care difficult."

The non-pet owner perspective

The 45 percent of older adults who said they don't have pets gave many reasons for not keeping a dog, cat, fish, lizard, bird or small mammal around. Among non-pet owners, 42 percent said they didn't want to be tied down. Twenty percent said they didn't have time, and 23 percent gave cost as the reason, while 16 percent said their own allergies, or those of someone in their household, were the reason.

For those who can't own pets due to allergies, budget constraints, housing circumstances or schedules, there's often a need for volunteers at local animal shelters or pet-sitting for friends and family, the researchers say. They note that health care providers and family may even want to recommend these options to older adults who have no pets and wish to have one.

The National Poll on Healthy Aging results are based on responses from a nationally representative sample of 2,051 adults aged 50 to 80 who answered a wide range of questions online. Questions were written, and data interpreted and compiled, by the IHPI team. Laptops and Internet access were provided to poll respondents who did not already have them.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/04/190403080514.htm

The Mental Health Benefits of Pet Ownership

March 21, 2017

By Anne Foy, Guest Contributor

We live in a society where we are increasingly challenged by stress, as the levels of national stress in America continue to rise. According to the American Psychological Association, 75% of adults have reported that at some point over the last month they have experienced moderate to high levels of stress whilst the American Institute of Stress have found that 80% of workers feel stress in their workplace, and struggle to control that stress. There are many ways in which you can learn to control your stress, and many different techniques you can adopt to help you reduce your levels of stress within the workplace. However, the simple companionship offered by a pet, such as a dog or cat, is a great way to reduce stress and anxiety when you return home each evening. Here are just some of the mental health benefits of pet ownership:

Dogs Force You to Get Outside

From a physical health point of view, owning a dog forces you to get outside in the fresh air and enjoy some exercise, because dogs love to be walked at least once a day. Given that regular exercise has been shown to have a positive impact on levels of depression, stress and anxiety, this physical health benefit will quickly serve double duty as a mental health benefit too. Exercise elevates your mood, and exercising outside will increase your exposure to the health-boosting vitamin D in the sunshine, which can help prevent conditions such as depression, cancer, obesity, and heart disease. When you are outside with your pet, why not use this as an opportunity to practice mindfulness: to enjoy the nature around you and focus on the calming environment you find yourself in?

Pets Help you Relax

For those suffering from depression and other depression-related disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) research has found that pet ownership has proved particularly beneficial, and many veterans returning to the US with PTSD are now routinely being offered forms of animal and in particular canine therapy to help them treat their conditions. The rhythmic petting and stroking of an animal forms a bond between the two of you and helps you to relax by releasing oxytocin. This is a hormone which is related to stress and anxiety relieve, which is why it proves so useful in PTSD treatment, and which can help to reduce blood pressure and lower cortisol levels in everyone, making stroking a pet you have a bond with a great natural stress reliever, and one that you can enjoy daily.

You’ll Never Be Lonely

Pets present a constant form of companionship, helping to alleviate any feelings of loneliness, particularly if you live alone. What’s more, pets are great listeners and provide a sounding board in which you can remove the stress of your day by talking about it. You can talk to your pet about anything, without fear or repercussions or loose lips sharing your secrets with others, and that can be very comforting if you’re struggling with stress or anxiety and want to share your thoughts and feelings in a safe environment. If you live alone then a pet gives you someone to share the routine of daily life with, and can help to give you an anchor in the world: someone who will both depend on you and love you unconditionally. Of course, the only negative aspect of pet ownership is that their lifespan isn't as long as ours, and even with the right food and exercise schedule, regular vet visits and the protection of a decent pet insurance policy, you are still likely to outlive your pet and have to grieve for him. However the joy that pets bring into our lives mean that, for most people, this return to loneliness when they pass is worth the sacrifice. 

Pets Make You Playful

When was the last time you played a game of hide and seek or tossed a frisbee? Owning a pet gives you the perfect excuse to play, to laugh, and to act like a child again! You’ll love the interaction, and your pet will love you forever for the undivided attention you are giving to him: it will also help improve your long-term bond and connection with each other. Laughter releases serotonin and dopamine, which are both mood enhancing hormones that can help alleviate stress and depression. Dancing with your dog, watching him wrestle with a bone or roll around chasing his own tail are all sure to raise a smile and improve your overall mental wellbeing at the same time.