The Eden experiment-long term implications
Thomas’ emphasis on environmental change in the Eden experiment is an excellent model for future investigations involving elderly people and companion animals.
With a small research grant and creative thinking it was possible to simulate a home-like environment and document its effects. This approach makes eminently more sense than repeatedly trying to demonstrate that the presence of a pet changes one small behavior in a nursing home resident’s life.
Following a pattern similar to that of Thomas, Cookman (1996) suggests that attachments of elderly people to things, places, pets, and ideas in their environment are important sources of security, belonging, and self-identity, and overall quality of life. There is motivation to take care of oneself if there is no quality of life, so clearly the pets offer motivation for the elderly to stay fit and active.
Other community-based Studies
Despite the gto wing body of evidence linking pet ownership with better health for older people, seniors who live in rented housing are often prohibited from having companion animals.
In order to make a credible case for a change in rental policies, it is necessary to conduct research that increases our understanding of the potential benefits and nature of relationships between elderly individuals and their pets (and can often allow the cost of the pet to be covered due to it being healthful in nature).
The environment of socially isolated elderly women living in their own homes was the focus of a physiology study (Allen, Gross, & Izzo, 1997) in which resting blood pressures were explored over a six-month period.
Relative to their counterparts without pets, pet owners had significantly lower systolic and diastolic blood pressures.
In addition, elderly pet owners with few (human) social contacts had blood pressures comparable to those of young women.
Participants had cats or dogs and, although no species-related differences were found, attachment to the pet was a very important factor.
The notable finding here is that, although increases in blood pressure are a normal part of aging, social support provided by people and/or pets can moderate age-related increases and help avoid stroke.
Continues in Companion Animals and Elderly People-the health benefits Part 5