There has been significant research that shows that pets and elderly benefit from each other. In fact, their are many benefits of pets for the elderly.
A Brooklyn College clinical research project found that having a pet was the strongest social predictor that a discharged health patient would survive. Essentially they found a direct health benefit between pets and elderly.
In terms of other health benefits, owning a pet can contribute to lower blood pressure. It is as though the pet has a direct effect on blood pressure through their natural companionship. A lower blood pressure as a result of pets and elderly owners also translates into a lower pulse rate. Pets and elderly cohabiting also translates into 21 percent less doctor visits.
Pets for elderly adults also report less depression. To extrapolate that idea, it probably means that lowering depression can also lengthen their lives when facing issues of increased age. This may be especially true that pets for seniors are a good idea when they have lost a loved one.
Pet therapy for the elderly can translate into increased social opportunities. Just by interacting with pets can make it easier to make friends among pets and elderly. Pets are known to offer unconditional love and affection that is seemingly passed along to seniors in their day to day lives.
Pets and elderly also may have a correlation from increased activity. Interacting with pets can influence seniors to become more active, and that translates into greater health benefits as well. While not all elderly are able to walk their pets any distance, the pets and elderly do maintain a certain level of activity that is beneficial.
Seniors generally seem to take better care of themselves when pets and elderly are together. They have a higher sense of responsibility and security in their duties to their pet. This also helps to fight off loneliness and the accompanying depression that they may experience from living alone.