Pets Help Seniors Stay Healthier and Happier
F
rench
novelist
Sidonie-
Gabrielle Collette once said, "Our perfect companions never have fewer than four feet." Pets provide meaningful social support for owners, and they can be especially beneficial for seniors. Ample research shows pet ownership delivers physical and mental health benefits for seniors, regardless of whether they're living on their own or in a senior living community. However, many older Americans still mistakenly believe moving into a senior living community means they'll have to
leave their pets behind. In fact, the fear they'll have to give up a beloved pet is among the top emotional reasons seniors don't want to move into senior living, according to author and senior real estate specialist Bruce Nemovitz. In an informal survey by Nemovitz, seniors ranked losing a pet as emotionally jarring as having to leave their familiar homes and possessions. "Senior living communities like Brookdale Senior Living are all about supporting the physical health and mental well-being of residents," says Carol Cummings, senior director of Optimum Life.
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