Dogs and Seniors See Eye to Eye: The Top Benefits of Dog Ownership for Seniors
A new study was released on the 95 benefits of having a dog + dog and human relationship facts.
One of the dog-human relationships examined was that of dogs and seniors. Dogs make seniors more active, physically and socially. Plus, pups can double as companions and caretakers because they offer a range of incredible benefits, such as:
Dog owners have a 24% lower risk of death from any cause than non-dog owners.
Dogs decrease agitation in seniors with dementia.
Older adults who walk dogs experience lower body mass index, fewer daily living limitations, and even fewer doctor visits than those who don't own dogs.
Dogs can watch out for seniors' health - they can be trained to sniff out cancers, including cancers of the skin, bladder, breast, and prostate.
Dog ownership is associated with a 27% reduced risk of early death for stroke survivors living alone.