The benefits of pets
For many people, caring for a beloved pet is a vital ingredient to feeling happy and having a sense of purpose. Discover how Home Instead can help to maintain that bond.
The benefits of having pets to care for at home
Mental Health
It isn’t just dogs that can be a best friend as all of our pets give us an unconditional love as well as loyalty and companionship. For our mental health, pets provide a sense of purpose as well as helping us to relax and bringing moments of joy. The UK Mental Health Foundation For some people, especially those who are now spending more time alone, pets can help to give a healthy routine around meal times, times to play and times for brushing and stroking which can all give a sense of satisfaction whilst many people find that talking to pets is an effective method of combatting feelings of loneliness. Pets can be brilliant listeners!
Physical Health
Some of the physical benefits such as general fitness from walking a dog are obvious, increasing heart rate to improve circulation and exercising limbs to increase muscle strength. Like any exercise, the increased activity in looking after a pet can give a feeling of increased energy whilst also helping general strength, balance and mobility, but did you realise that just spending time with pets can also lower blood pressure and cholesterol, and therefore lower the risk of heart disease and strokes. The British Heart Foundation cites a study from Sweden which found that the risk of heart disease was 11 % lower in dog owners compared to non – dog owners. Studies by Arthritis Research Canada have also demonstrated benefits of pet ownership for people with arthritis. All of these health conditions can present challenges to owning a pet and these difficulties must be taken into account when making the decision to care for an animal, however Arthritis Research Canada believe that the benefits outweigh the challenges. Arthritis Action UK even has a blog with advice about pet ownership. On top of our own companionship care services, there are organisations such as time banks and The Cinnamon Trust as well as plenty of innovations such as hands-free leads and timed-pet-feeders which can make pet ownership easier.
Brain Health
An indirect benefit of caring for a pet is that you tend to meet more new people, increasing social interaction and mental stimulation, keeping the brain active, helping you to stay connected with the local community and just likecrafts and other hobbies this can contribute to maintaining cognitive function. Having pets can force people to get out into the community, giving structure to the day and these routines can provide a sense of purpose to the day.
How can Home Instead (Stourbridge, Hagley and Halesowen) help with caring for pets?
Caring for pet and owner
As we get older some of the jobs of caring for our pets can become more challenging, especially for people with health concerns and those whose mobility is limited. Rather than giving up on pets, these are all things that Home Instead can support, whether it is walking the dog (hopefully all together), supporting trips to the vet, making certain that pets always get their meals on time, ensuring that the treats drawer is well stocked, or that the adored tortoise gets exactly the right sort of grapes (Yes, we have done that too!). We understand that pets are often loved by the whole extended family so we are very pleased to be able to provide reassurance that both pet and owners are both being well looked after. As well as the owners’ dog visiting the office in Hagley, we find that an extraordinary, disproportionate number of our Care Professinals are dog owners and they enjoy nothing better than helping clients with pet care.
Providing Live In Care across Stourbridge, Hagley and Halesowen
Live In Care can be a perfect solution for people who do not want to be separated from their beloved pets which are not allowed in residential care homes. A live in care professional can help the owner to care for their pet around the clock, maintaining all of the benefits that we have already talked about in this article.
