Low Maintenance Pets That Can Ease Anxiety and Reduce Loneliness

Have you been searching for something for your elderly mom or dad that would provide some comfort and help ease their feelings of loneliness? While you may think that they are not capable of assuming the responsibilities of a new pet, you could consider one of the many “robotic pets” in the marketplace.

We know there has been a lot of research that supports the idea that pet ownership is beneficial to seniors and a loving pet is a great companion. Now researchers have also discovered that robotic pets may provide the elderly with many of the same benefits live animals do. In fact, a study found that the interaction between older adults and animals, whether real or robotic, helped lower blood pressure, eased anxiety, reduced feelings of loneliness and improved the overall quality of life.

The advantage of a low-maintenance robot dog or cat is they are easy for seniors with little to no tech savvy to “care for.” The realistic pets do little tricks such as a robotic dog who wags its tail, raises its eyebrow when you pet it, has a heartbeat, and makes a barking noise. For people with dementia, robotic pets have helped ease agitation and anxiety and seem to have a calming influence.

New York’s Department for the Aging (DFTA) was so impressed with the pets that they implemented a program to distribute mechanical dogs and cats to seniors with the aim of easing loneliness. When phase 3 of the program was announced in late 2021, assemblyman Billy Jones (D-Chateaugay Lake) said, “Studies have shown time and again that isolation has a severe detrimental impact on the physical and mental health of older adults. Robotic pets have become a proven success to not only help seniors overcome social isolation and improve public health but cut down on health care costs.”

MorningStar at Bear Creek provides compassionate memory care to residents with Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases, and we could not agree more about the benefits of pets, live or robotic. Our beautiful community has 48 suites and was designed from the ground up to provide a safe, supportive and loving environment. Please contact us or visit our website for more information about trusted memory care in Colorado Springs.

MorningStar at Bear Creek brings a unique vision to senior living with our mission statement “to honor, to value, to invest.” Our foundation is built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve. We create a true home for residents within an ideal setting and invite you to schedule a tour to see firsthand our loving memory care community in Colorado Springs.