The Value of Pets

“Friendship retains its traditional values and securities in one's relationship with one's pet. Whether a dog, cat, bird, fish, turtle, or what have you, one can rely upon the fact that one's pet will always remain a faithful, intimate, non-competitive friend -- regardless of the good or ill fortune life brings us."

- Dr. Boris Levinson 

Many studies have been conducted proving the therapeutic value of owning a pet.  Stroking a pet can aid in relaxation, which relieves stress and anxiety and lowers blood pressure.  But why is this so?

“The human-animal bond bypasses the intellect and goes straight to the heart and emotions, nurturing us in ways that nothing else can,” said Karin Winegar, whose book Saved: Rescued Animals and the Lives They Transform chronicles human-animal interactions. “We’ve seen this from coast to coast, whether it’s disabled children at a riding center in California or a nursing home in Minnesota, where a woman with Alzheimer’s disease could not recognize her husband but she could recognize their beloved dog.”

Dr. Dawn A. Marcus, a neurologist and professor in the Department of Anesthesiology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, emphasizes the value of specially trained canines in her book, The Power of Wagging Tails: A Doctor's Guide to Dog Therapy and Healing.  She bases her findings on a career of about 20 years in pain management.  “People with chronic pain usually have experienced a lot of life disruption and symptoms and 'just a pill' often does little to make a dent in the problems caused by their pain," she said. "Research shows that dogs can help people with a wide range of medical conditions including chronic pain, autism, heart disease, psychological problems and more."

Owning and caring for a pet can also have other benefits.  Caring for an animal can help stimulate physical activity, either by playing with or walking the pet, when possible.  In addition, taking care of a pet gives a senior a sense of purpose, helping to fill their days with love and companionship.  

Many nursing homes and senior care facilities across the country participate in an animal assistive therapy program, facilitating visits with animals that provide a warm and comforting presence to residents.  Handlers, with their trained therapy animals, are regulars found in many facility corridors, and visits from these pets, like no other event, bring a sparkle to the eye of many residents.

At Gurwin Jewish Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, our bird atrium, as well as our salt water fish tank, is a magnet for both long- and short-term rehabilitation residents, as well as for their families and visitors.  Allowing family pets to visit is another special accommodation we make for our residents, banking on the proven theory that a visit from a beloved pet can help in the healing process.  For those who were devoted to their pet before entering the nursing & rehabilitation center, nothing could be better than the sight, feel and sound of their furry, feathered or finned friend.

By Karen Nash, CTRS

Karen is the Director of Therapeutic Recreation at the Gurwin Jewish Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Commack. For more information about Gurwin’s family of services, visit www.gurwin.org.