Pathways for Aging

Pet therapy - what is the benefit to older adults?  As I sit in my office, my 2 cats are contentedly sleeping away the morning.   It reminds me of the value and importance that some of our older adults place on their relationship with their pet.  Some of our clients share their small senior apartments with a cat, who is often sleeping in their lap or nearby as we have our therapy session.  We joke about the value of their daily dose of “cat therapy”, but I believe that this is not something to be discounted.  My clients readily admit to their pet’s impact on their mood.  Research has shown that pet therapy in nursing homes can help in decreasing depression.  What do you think about pet therapy and its impact on older adults?