Pets can benefit every person. Studies have proven time and again that just petting an animal can calm a person and lower their blood pressure. And you don’t even need to own an animal to pet them! But the effects of an animal in your home go beyond having a furry friend to nuzzle. Pets provide companionship, something that many seniors can begin to lose as their mobility declines.

The Pets for the Elderly Foundation points out that when seniors own pets, their need to visit their doctors declines, and they have a good excuse to get active. Seniors who can still take a short walk around the block may be more inclined to do so when there’s a dog who needs to go out. Those who do not have that much mobility can get a smaller dog that only needs to use the yard, or a cat that can use a litter box. The benefits will still exist, such as being more sociable – an animal draws others near to chat.

It is, however, very important to think of the details.

• What is the age and breed of the pet?
  Smaller dogs are often seen as more manageable, but many breeds need lots of exercise. A kitten or puppy is very cute, but they are quite active and sometimes hard to train.

• Who will care for the pet when the senior is no longer able to?
  This is a good question to answer before the senior gets the pet, so everyone is prepared.

• What are the annual costs of keeping the animal?
  While big dogs may be mellower than medium or small-sized dogs, they also eat more. Also consider getting pet health insurance for the animal – it’s often much less expensive than an unexpected surgery down the road.

As long as you have the answers to the above, and everyone’s in agreement, a pet can be a wonderful companion to a senior or a senior couple. Are there other tips that caregivers should keep in mind before placing a pet with a senior? If you have them, we’d love to hear them in the comment section below.