Any situation in life, bad or good, can always improve if you add a puppy. If dogs aren’t your thing, then add a kitten, bunny, or lizard. Whatever animal you chose as a companion for disabled family members, studies show their friendship provides numerous health benefits. Animals are a source of comfort, especially for disabled adults living at home.
Benefits of Animal Companions for Disabled Family Members
Furry friends
When considering companion services for disabled family members, dogs and cats usually come to mind first. Both can be trained and certified as service animals. Caregivers benefit, too, when you bring new activities for disabled adults into the home.
Here are some health benefits of owning a furry companion:
- Encouraging physical activity during stroke recovery
- Reducing cardiovascular stress
- Increasing levels of happiness hormones, like dopamine and endorphins
- Reducing occurrence of minor health issues
- Assisting in socialization with family members, neighbors, and friends
- Keeping stress levels low
Fish tanks
Depending on your disabled loved one’s mobility, caregivers may have a lot of responsibility when it comes to home care for disabled adults. Cleaning, feeding, and exercising a cat or dog could add more stress than relief. Although setting up a fish tank is some work, once it’s up and running, those little guys take care of themselves. Fish owners and adult day programs with aquariums benefit from:
- Decreasing heart rate through calming effects of watching fish swim
- Increasing appetite of loved ones with Alzheimer’s Disease
- Lowering temperature and muscle tension in disabled seniors
- Reducing stress and tension while at adult care centers
Scales and tails
Lizards, snakes, hamsters, rabbits, and birds are small animals alternatives as companions for disabled family members. They each live in small enclosures, making clean-up and homecare easy while still providing calming activities for disabled adults like holding and petting. Physical contact with a beloved pet can significantly increase health benefits like:
- Reducing mood disorders and anxiety
- Creating a strong emotional bond and friendship
- Raising self-esteem
- Lessening chances of depression
- Encouraging independence and sense of responsibility
Find Loving Companions at Nevada Adult Day Healthcare Centers
At Nevada Adult Day Healthcare Centers, your family is our family. We have loving and skilled nurses and staff members who make excellent companions for disabled family members. Visit us to find out how your disabled loved one can make friends at our adult day programs.
