Tag Archives: pets and health

Pets in Assisted Living

More and more assisted living facilities are welcoming pets along with people! I personally think this is a great idea. Pets have such a positive effect on people — mentally, physically, and emotionally. A transition to an assisted living facility can be difficult; if a pet eases the way, I’m all for it. However, there are some drawbacks to allowing pets to live in a facility. The cons of pets in assisted living: Staff members have to spend time and energy helping owners care for the pets. Pet food and health care is an additional financial burden on owners and … Continue reading →

Pet Therapy: Sympathetic Pups

Having a pet can help reduce stress and ease feelings of loneliness. A recent study reports that they can also help ease nervousness! UCLA studied seventy-six patients who had experienced heart failure. Some visited with a friendly canine; some visited with a friendly stranger. The folks who had a visit from a four-legged friend saw a huge drop in anxiety levels — anxiety scores went down twenty-four percent! The people who had dog visits also saw a seventeen percent drop in levels of epinephrine, a stress hormone. The folks with the two-legged visitors did see some easing of nervousness and … Continue reading →