The medicine of the future will be plants and herbs…nature’s medicine.

– Einstein

PETS For the Elderly:  A Therapeutic Match

Research shows that older people who have pets enjoy better physical and emotional health.

Animals fill a void in the lives of the elderly who are alone without friends or loved onesl.  Pets can greatly increase quality of life for many senior citizens.  Dr. Sandra Barker, director of the Center for Human-Animal Interaction at Virginia Commonwealth University, recalls the story of Anne, a depressed 95 year old who, after being given a dog named Pumpkin, began to eat again.  When Annie’s landlord sued her for violating a no-pet police, she was asked in deposition what would happen if Pumpkin were taken away. “I’ll die,” Annie replied.

Pets for the Eldery Foundation matches seniors with cats and dogs by underwriting the pets’ adoptions.  “Those who are responsible for a pet are likely to take better care of themselves, because they feel someone is counting on them,” said general manager Susan Kurowski.  The Waltham Book of Human-Animal Interactions published a study for elderly dog owners revealing 75 percent of men and 67 percent of women considered their dog their only friend.

While pets for the Elderly focuses on matching senior citiens with cats and dogs, birds, rabbits, and fish still provide the desired effects.  The Waltham Book of Human-Animal Interactions also published a study that found elderly women in nursing homes preferred an hour-long session interacting with a rabbit to an hour of oopen leisure time.  Animals don’t judge the people who love them, making the comfort of a lap animal, the liveliness of an aviary, or an aquarium’s tranquility uncondition pleasures.

Proof on the Charts

Donna Williamson and her cat, Moochie, participants in the Delta Society Pet Partner Program, were called on to visit a terminal patient.  When they arrived, family members greeted them in tears as the patients had slipped into a coma.  Donna put Moochie in bed with the man, who awoke from the coma, took his arms out from under the sheets and began petting the cat.  “The murse sat there with her mouth wide open,” Williamson said.  “Every time I see that nurse, she relates what a miracle that was.”

The Delta Society is committed to improving human health through service and therapy animals.  While animals are proven health aids to all people, their benefits to senior citizens is extraordinary.  A study published  in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society found that  elderly pet owners are more active, cope better with stress, and have lower blood pressure.

Dr. Edward Creagan of the Mayo Medical School observed, “If pet ownership was a medication, it would be patented tomorrow.”  Whether it’s walking a dog or brushing a cat, activity benefits the cardiovascular system and helps keep joints flexible.  Creagan cited a study of patients 12 months after suffering heart attacks, finding 9 out of 10 of those with pets survived, opposed to 7 out of 10 without pets.  A study in the Journal of personality and Social issues reveals that dogs, especially, promoted exercise; owners spend and average of 1.5 hours outdoors daily.  Even fish foster healthy living- a Purdue University study found that the presence of an aquarium at mealtimes increases appetites of Alzheimer’s patients who don’t eat enough for good nutrition.

Introducing a Social Life

“We had an elderly gentleman adopt a puppy today,” Michelle McCann of Participants  PAWS in Ft. Walton Beach, Fla., wrote to Pets for the Elderly.  “He was standing inthe lobby holding his pupy as we all ‘oohed and ‘ahhed,’ and he was laughing about what a chick magnet his puppy was going to be!”

Animals are indeed social magnets.  Nursing home communities such as Silverado and Eden Alternative were founded on principles of meaningful interactions driven by an animal-filled environment  Administrator Noralynn Snow houses dogs, cats, birds, fish – even kangaroos- at Silverado’s Aspen Park Facility.  The latter especially, she says, has the “oooh, ahhh” factor, which encourages families normally shy of the residents at the home, to visit.  Cooperative animal care also spurs interaction between the residents .

Different Pets, Different Frets

Though all animals offer beenefits to elderly, some are better suited toward certain individuals.  The International Journal of Aging andHuman Development found that cats offer many of the social aspects sought by lonely peole who cannot provide the regular exercise dogs require.

Additionally, “Many elderly people also get a real satisfaction out of caged birds,” said Dr. William Fortney of Kansas State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine.  “They are easy keepers and very social animals.”  Noralynn Snow of Silverado notes that bird noises are especially important to those who are bedridden, because they can derice a sense of the outdoors from birds.  Even rats provide companionship.  Veterinarian Dr. Cam Day says, “Rats are easy to keep and are not expensive to buy.  I know a hip granny who has a pet rat and adores it, too.”

Bottom Line

“Policies that encourage pet ownership among the aged, either at home or as they make the transition to elder living facilities, can improve some medical conditions and alleviate loneliness,” said Nalini Saligram, board chair of PAWSitive interAction.  Be it on a doctor’s chart or in the wordless testimony of the animal itself, creaataures of all kinds strenghen the lives they touch.

By Barbara Sharmak for WebVet

Reviewed by Amy I. Attas, VMD

It is always nice to hear that what you have written is helping others, and/or that it is appreciated, or even criticized by a different view. If we cannot see things from another’s perspective, then we never learn.  The lessons of life after death, are as old as time itself, simple, yet made complicated.  All souls, yes all…go to the other side.  Some refer to this place as heaven, well, to some it maybe. Others, it’s home, and in truth that is the reality of this place.  Just a breath away from  wherever you are, is the world of our creation, from the mother of the earth, and the father of the sky, we are all connected.  Each and everyone of us.  And to each of us, heaven is whatever our minds, (spirit), not our brains, (physical), dreams it to be.  That is how our loved ones travel to this plane.  They no longer are encumbered by the body, the only thing capable of violence, hatred, bitterness, and evil.  Our souls are pure light, never tainted by the outside world, yet taking on the job, of keeping the physical as straight as the arrow can fly.  But we are tempted, and the soul cannot always reach us.  In this new year, remember that your loved ones are with you, no matter what anyone says, they are here, and they are there, we can feel them, smell them, watch them through our minds eye.  Don’t let others tell you, it is wishful thinking…it is a wish come true.  No one is perfect here, but they, they are perfect there, and the love stays perfect.  It never waivers, not even a fraction of a bit.  Feel them in your dreams…watch them…believe in them, and they will show you more.  But first, you must realize that death is a physical thing.  But the soul lives forever, and we ourselves being spiritual beings will live forever too.  So if we are all spiritual beings, than our separation is merely temporary.  We go on…but some choose to go on first.  If we realize this, then life doesn’t end with the body, it is reborn to the home of our creators, and all that have loved us, and all that we have loved, will be waiting.  Believe in them as they believe in you…you are all miracles, and being here, that is a miracle.  Forget the negative, and be the miracle each and every day…if we all do this…the world will change, and the spirit within will overtake the physical that wills itself to win.  Happy Holidays, and blessings for love, joy, and no goodbyes, for a wondrous New Year!  In light and in love,

Vicki

The holidays are meant to be a time of great happiness, thankfulness,and joy when friends and loved ones can come together. I get many e-mails and phone calls from people thanking me for helping them through the loss of a loved one, and that they feel a sense of peace and closure. Even in times like these, it is not unusual for many who have found that sense of peace, that recognize the signs of a loved ones presence, to feel sadness, and a deep seated loneliness that they hadn’t felt in while. Joy and sadness, love and hate, are very fine lines that can cross each other leaving us with a sense of hopelessness, and a wonder if we ever felt better at all. Well…time does heal all wounds. But during festive times, when we see others enjoying family members that we have lost it is only natural to feel and become sad at not having our loved ones present. Here is the kicker though, when we have those moments when we just break down and cry, be it a song, movie, feeling, whatever over takes us at that moment, causing such a deep sadness, it is necessary. The reason, it’s not loss, it’s…”them”. Yes, they are visiting! They know how much holidays can be joyful, and sorrowful to. Those deep sobs we feel at their loss, in physical terms, means they are hugging you! And the physical cannot understand nor apply resistance to it, so it becomes overwhelmed. But as you or me, or whomever relates to this knows…after the tears stop, and we are up again, moving about our day. We see that the sadness or feeling of loss has been replaced by this sense of “knowing”, a feeling of peace, and love, and calm has taken it’s place. Our souls have absorbed all of the love they gave in that moment of grief. Take this to heart, and know they don’t forget, they never hurt, or are angry. That is a human aspect of the two. The soul remains pure, loving, compassionate, patient, and above all…non judgmental. That is their world. Our world. Where we come from, and will one day return to. Anger, hatred, bitterness, they are all feelings that only the physical can create. So during this time of joy/sadness…remember who ever has gone on ahead, is not away from you, but closer than ever before. If they were cruel in life, angry, spiteful, these are all gone now. They send only love to us. Forgiving these things is good. Forgetting them, not so much. Put them in your mind’s file. A lesson learned would be a terrible waste if lost in time. So during this holiday season, don’t let yourself feel lost. Find someone, there is always a person in need of caring, volunteering, and just sharing your time. Not only does it help you, in giving and receiving the joy of Christmas is delivers the greatest gift of all…love to others.

Happy Holidays!
Love and Light,
Vicki