Why should elderly patients foster animals?
- They have the time
- It improves their physical and emotional health
- It gives them a sense of purpose
Most animal shelters constantly struggle with lack of space. The people who work at an animal shelter care for abandoned or homeless dogs and cats temporarily, but overcrowding is too common and a lot of these creatures are often euthanized to make room.
Therefore, it makes sense for dementia caregivers in Chicago to volunteer their elderly patients for fostering these animals. Anyone can bring home animal and care for them until another person or family decides to adopt them. However, most are probably too busy for this. It is usually retirees and home care patients who are the only ones who can devote the time.
Therefore, it makes sense for dementia caregivers in Chicago to let their patients foster animals because they have the time, as well as other qualities required for supervising cats and dogs. These are reasons why Caregiver Services in Illinois should create policies that allow seniors to interact with animals:
They Have the Time
Young puppies and kittens need people willing to train them in different activities because well-trained animals tend to be favored more for adoptees. Elderly people are the perfect teachers for this because they can give their full attention to these young animals by giving regular walks, food, and potty training. Of course, the shelters are going to be the ones to shoulder the food and medical costs. It may seem weird to trust people who need 24-hour caregiver service in Illinois themselves, but the ability to love someone or something never really leaves a person no matter what age they may be!
It Improves Their Physical and Emotional Health
First of all, when it comes to physical health, dogs and cats are very good at lowering blood pressure and regulating the heart rate of people just by being in physical contact with them. Second, sick patients that are visited by animals reported lower feelings of pain. Lastly, the closer a senior becomes with his or her foster animal, the more exercise he or she does by walking with their pet.
Elderly patients usually arrive at assisted living homes with a lot of emotional pain and may have even developed mental health issues before. Seniors with dementia are especially at risk because they have a higher chance of developing depression compared to other adults. A lot of people may want to help them but do not know how to communicate their feelings which can lead to misunderstandings with dementia caregivers in Chicago.
One of the biggest causes of depression and anxiety is loneliness. Animal companionship pushes patients to socialize with other people by decreasing stress from prolonged isolation.
It Gives Them a Sense of Purpose
When retired seniors foster animals, they finally have something to do outside of themselves, therefore giving them purpose. In a 14-year study of 20- to 75-year-old participants, U.S. and Canadian researchers discovered that 9 percent of those who died were the ones who had a lower sense of purpose. The act of caring for animals may decrease the mortality rate of elderly patients.
Key Takeaway
When the elderly use their free time to care for animals, they are also practicing self-care. The act of fostering animals allow them to experience health benefits and a sense of purpose — both of which are factors vital for living a long life.
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