What Is The “Pet Effect”

Isn’t it such a treat when you visit a friend or family member who has a pet and you get to cuddle and play with the cute cat or dog for a few hours before you head home to your life without a pet? Maybe you have a pet and you enjoy her/his companionship each and every day and get an extra smile or two from your interactions with your pet.

It may comes as no surprise then that research is finding that a certain “pet effect” may have an impact on those who are aging in place and that the longer a person has the companionship of a pet the more likely she/he is to have less cognitive decline as they get older then those who do not have a pet for companionship.

There have been many studies that have looked at the effect of pets on their owners happiness, but this most recent study out of the University of Michigan looked specifically at the results that owning a pet may have on brain function of those who are older. The study, which surveyed nearly 20,000 people over the age of 50 between the years of 2010 and 2016 found that those who had had the companionship of an animal had better brain function including short and long-term memory for words. Generally the study found that those who were over the age of 65 years-old saw the most dramatic difference in cognitive brain function. This could be directly related to the greater likelihood of symptoms of dementia showing up in that age bracket, but the findings of pet ownership were promising.

So, should you go out and buy your loved one who is aging in place a pet to try to take advantage of the “pet effect?” The short answer is, it depends.

Pet ownership is not something to be taken lightly. If your loved one is struggling to maintain her/his own independence it may not be a good idea to add another living being that would be reliant on them for food and exercise as a responsibility in day to day life. Another factor is also cost, when pets have a tendency to cost more for food, medical attention and other ancillary costs that are associated with owning a pet. Pet ownership should also take into consideration living conditions. Is the space your loved one is living in large enough to give the animal space and if so, are animals allowed where she/he lives.

If you have determined that pet ownership is allowed and feasible for your loved one who is aging in place, you may want to consider adopting a pet for some companionship. The above study shows that the “pet effect” takes about five years to really start to have an impact so the sooner you can determine whether a pet is good for your loved one or not, the better.