ElderDog promotes the wellbeing of aging dogs and encourages the elderly to take ownership of their pets. This charitable organization aims to strengthen animal-human bonds and can help your aging loved one in 4 different ways.
1. Promotes Independence
ElderDog requires your elderly loved one to read up on the type of care his or her senior dog needs and any health complications the pet has. This responsibility allows your loved one to be in charge, which promotes independence. Caring for the senior pet can make your loved one feel needed, enhance his or her quality of life, and boost dignity and self-esteem.
2. Reduces Stress
The ElderDog organization helps reduce stress levels in seniors, and its program is designed to combat senior loneliness and depression. Owning a dog allows your senior loved one to play, interact, and pet the dog throughout the day, which increases the levels of stress-reducing hormone oxytocin and decreases the stress hormone cortisol. This helps prevent a heart attack, stroke, obesity, and other health conditions.
3. Stimulates the Brain
Many Oakville home care experts recommend seniors keep dogs, as animal care helps stimulate their minds. Your loved one will need to remember what time the dog needs to eat, take a walk, and more. This brain stimulation keeps the mind active and preserves memory. Senior pets are quick learners, making it easier for your loved one to teach the dog new tricks and keep diseases such as Alzheimer’s and dementia at bay.
4. Boosts Physical Health
If your loved one adopts a senior pet through ElderDog, this can help him or her maintain a healthy weight by boosting physical activity. By taking the senior dog on walk regularly, your loved one can keep his or her heart healthy. Playing games and interacting with the senior dog also helps your loved one build muscle strength and prevent balance issues.
Spending time with pets is just one of many ways to enhance quality of life for seniors. When it comes to caring for a senior loved one, human companionship is just as important. Professional caregivers at Home Care Assistance can help boost your loved one’s physical and mental health. We provide companionship, emotional support, and a variety of social stimulation activities to stave off dementia in seniors and slow cognitive decline. To create a customized care plan for your loved one or hire a reliable live-in, respite, or Alzheimer’s caregiver in Oakville, ON, call us at (905) 337-1200.