Active Aging is a weekly series that provides health tips and creative life ideas for an active aging lifestyle.

Keeping pets is beneficial and therapeutic for the elderly. Caring for animals can bring happiness, comfort and companionship-which helps relieve stress and improve mental health.

Building relationships and being responsible for meeting the needs of pets can also create a sense of purpose and provide structure for daily life. Here are the many benefits of caring for pets.

Companion animals are people who can spend time with, talk with, nurture and love. Dogs and cats often give mutual affection, which is comforting-especially for those who may live alone.

Research shows that caring for pets can promote mental health. A study in the Journal of Aging and Mental Health involving 14 community elderly people aged 65 and over found that pets can provide companionship, cultivate a sense of purpose and meaning, reduce loneliness and increase social interaction.

"Feeling and holding animals allows you to appreciate the beauty of nature," explained Dr. Jeremy Barron, medical director of the Johns Hopkins University Beechm Center for Gerontology. "It's relaxing and detached."

Johns Hopkins University reported that “84% of patients with post-traumatic stress disorder paired with service dogs have significantly reduced symptoms, and 40% can reduce medication.”

A simple tail wagging, a soft grunt or a spin on the wheel can trigger spontaneous smiles and happiness, which invigorate the spirit and help fight anxiety and depression.

Other studies have shown that petting or petting a cat or dog can relieve stress, thereby lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and improving heart health.

A study by the American Heart Association concluded, “Compared with people who do not own a dog, keeping a dog can reduce the risk of death for heart attack survivors who live alone by 33%, while stroke survivors who live alone have a reduced risk of death by 27 %. ."

In addition, walking the dog not only allows you to exercise, but also gives you the opportunity to go outdoors, enjoy the fresh air and absorb the natural vitamin D in the sun. Regular exercise can also improve your mood.

Compared with buying a pet from a store or a breeder, the multiple rewards of adopting a pet are priceless. Most importantly, adoption can save the lives of shelter animals. According to the American Association for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), "Approximately 920,000 shelter animals are euthanized each year (390,000 dogs and 530,000 cats)."

Welcoming shelter animals into your home means that you give companionship, comfort and love to homeless animals. Millions of animals enter the shelter every year. Adopting one can make a shelter for another animal. In addition, many of the animals in the shelter have received indoor training, have been neutered/neutered, have received their first vaccination, and have undergone health and behavior checks. If you adopt an older, more mature animal, and most people are used to living with others, you give them a second chance to be part of a loving family.

Both cats and dogs can be companions of love. If you are not sure what furry family member you want, these comparisons may help you make a decision.

More Americans have dogs than cats. According to the 2017-2018 statistics of pet ownership by the American Veterinary Medical Association, 38.4% of households have dogs and 25.4% have cats.

Dogs usually require more time and attention than cats. For optimal health, dogs need a lot of exercise-about two to three times a day. They also need to go outside to go to the bathroom, and you have to clean up their excrement.

Depending on the size and breed, many dogs also need more living space. Dogs are more social than cats. Many dogs like to start playing, hugging, and other forms of human interaction. Because they go outdoors, dogs need to clean their paws and take a bath once a month.

Cats are independent, can clean themselves, and do not take up too much physical space. They use the bathroom in a trash can that requires regular cleaning and maintenance. Most cats are indoor pets, so you don't need to walk them or let them go out.

Some cats like to hug and will spend hours snuggling on your lap, while others are more indifferent and will only seek your attention when they need it. Cats also like to play. In addition, cats do not beg for food from humans like dogs.

Finally, according to the ASPCA study, the average cost of raising a cat is lower than raising a dog.

Hamsters are cute pets. They like to socialize, but they can also play with toys for hours in the cage to entertain themselves. It will be fun to watch them play, and it will be comforting to hold and touch them. Hamsters clean themselves, require minimal cage cleaning, and are relatively inexpensive pets.

There are many benefits to watching fish swimming in a colorful underwater aquarium. A Purdue University study found that Alzheimer’s patients who were exposed to fish tanks “appear to be more relaxed and alert, and they eat 21% more food than before they were introduced into the fish tank.”

Other studies have shown that watching fish can relieve stress, improve mood, lower blood pressure and lower heart rate. In addition, compared with cats or dogs, fish maintenance costs are lower. Overall, caring for your pet can inspire unparalleled happiness, improve your mood and many other rewards.

Active aging is provided by Koelsch Communities.

Koelsch Communities is family owned and operated for three generations. Our continued success stems from our founding principles, as we strive to serve our residents with respect, dignity and compassion, and to provide the best life experience anywhere.