There is little argument that pets make wonderful companions and are often considered valuable members of a family or household. For older adults, pets can fill an even bigger role. Many older adults who live alone or have limited access to their community, live in isolated situations where a furry friend can be vitally important to their wellbeing – mentally, physically, and emotionally. Pets are a constant loving companion for seniors, often reducing loneliness and depression. Most people love their pets dearly, but for seniors experiencing isolation, their pet may be their only source of companionship and emotional support.
Having a pet is also linked to health benefits such as decreased blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and triglyceride levels. A study by the University of Michigan, sponsored by AARP, found that 70% of older adults said their pet helps them cope with physical or emotional symptoms, and 46% said their pets help take their mind off of pain.
Pets provide other benefits for seniors including and increased sense of purpose, reduced stress, and increased activity. Caring for a pet can provide a sense of purpose and create a routine that adds structure to a person’s days, which can be important for people who are isolated from their community. Pets are also shown to significantly reduce stress and anxiety and promote a more positive attitude, which is why so many hospitals and rehabilitation units utilize pet therapy. Having a pet is also shown to increase a person’s activity level – this doesn’t have to be a walk around the block; just playing and interacting with one’s pet generates additional activity and reduces the negative effects of a sedentary lifestyle.
Because pets are so important to so many older adults, Milestone Senior Services offers a Pet Support for Seniors program which works in tandem with their Home Delivered Meals (Meals on Wheels) program. Home Delivered Meals provides needed nutrition for seniors who are not able to access adequate nutrition for themselves. Milestone recognizes that if people are unable to access food for themselves, they likely experience the same challenges providing for their valued pets. Barriers to accessing pet supplies can be related to a financial burden, lack of transportation, or physical limitations.
According to Meals on Wheels of America, one in five seniors who own pets reported going without food themselves so that their pets could eat. When Milestone realized that many of their Home Delivered Meals clients were sharing their meals with their pets, they established the Pet Support for Seniors program so that their nutrition clients who have pets can receive home delivered dog and cat food, as well as cat litter.
Because transporting a pet can create even more challenges for older adults, over the past two years, Milestone has piloted an expansion of their Pet Support for Seniors program to include an annual mobile veterinary visit to assist with exams and vaccinations for qualifying clients.
Support for Milestone’s Pet Support for Seniors program is provided through donations, grant funding, and a partnership with the Kalamazoo Humane Society who provides a portion of the pet food. Milestone volunteers break down the large quantities of food into smaller, more manageable sized portions. This makes it easier for staff and volunteers to deliver and easier for the clients to manage in their home. Milestone then utilizes the delivery system already in place for Home Delivered Meals to deliver pet supplies on designated days. Milestone Senior Services’ Pet Support for Seniors is available to qualified Home Delivered Meals clients throughout Calhoun & Kalamazoo counties. For more information, contact Milestone’s customer service department at 269-382-0515.
