It is often recommended that seniors own pets to ward off loneliness and isolation. Yet only 41% of senior citizens own pets, according to a new Caring.com report. The sample size was 628 adults age 65 or older living in the continental US. Interviews were conducted by landline and cellphone by Princeton Survey Research Associates International
“Social interaction is a key component to staying both emotionally and physically healthy as we age,” said Andy Cohen, founder and CEO of Caring.com. “Staying active in communities and connecting with family on a regular basis could actually be adding years to your life,” Mr. Cohen added.
Many of those surveyed said interacting with family and friends staved off the loneliness. And what about those with no family and friends? Did a pet do the trick? Unfortunately the study did not ask that question!
Julie Cameron is the author of the bestseller The Artist’s Way and IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO BEGIN AGAIN: Discovering Creativity and Meaning at Midlife and Beyond (TarcherPerigee; April 19, 2016), her new book written with Emma Lively, which is the essential toolkit for anyone looking to take that next big leap, whether it’s outside the workplace or forward into a creative venture.
At sixty-eight, Cameron has certainly not slowed down! She firmly believes in the power of pets for helping retired people stay young and active. In fact she had a dog, a special Cocker Spaniel with a tail, that helped her through a dark time in her own life. We asked her a few questions about the results of the Caring.com survey.
Why do you feel a dog is important in the life of people as they age?
JC: Dogs give unconditional love. They do not fault-find. They set their pace to match their owner’s needs. They are affectionate and touchable. Many times their owners need to be touched.
Why was having a dog important in your own life?
JC: I went through a long period of being nearly housebound, and my dog’s companionship cut the isolation. Walking out, my dog made friends with strangers. I learned to know my neighbors– they knew my dog.
Do you think there are any drawbacks that need to be taken in to account?
JC: Sometimes the very things which are good about owning a dog can seem difficult. Taking my dog out three times a day could at times feel like a burden, yet getting out of the house was good for me.
A new survey conducted says less than 41% of senior citizens have pets. Are you surprised by that number?
JC: The number just shows me that we have room for improvement. At age 68, I have a two-year-old dog who may outlive me.
Do you think this number has, in part, to do with lack of dog (or pet) friendly senior living?
JC: Yes, I believe that is a factor.
“Having a dog brings merriment to my household,” Cameron added. “I am grateful for my pup’s affection.”
So maybe we need some more pet-friendly retirement facilities. I know that my Grandma was always happy when I brought my dog to visit. She wasn’t able to care for one herself due to health concerns, but she lived to be 101 and she appreciated patting a dog’s head now and then. She couldn’t remember a lot, but she remembered how much she loved dogs.
Politics & Pets
There was one other interesting statistic in the Caring.com study, and it was about (shudder) politics.
I try to avoid writing about politics and parties like the plague, but this survey show interesting link between pet ownership, your political affiliation and loneliness!
Political affiliations also appear to have an influence on loneliness. The following are the percentage a person with a certain political affliction feels lonely “often” or “sometimes”:
- 30% Democrats
- 19% Republicans
- 17% Independents
Interestingly, Democrats also didn’t own cats or dogs as much as Republicans or Independents, which could attribute to the higher frequency of loneliness.
What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments!
