For many older people a furry friend can be exactly what the doctor ordered. From psychological benefits such as lowering anxiety to the social benefits of getting out of the house for a walk, many studies show that companion animals really do positively impact health. For older people who are still active, a dog can get them out of the house and moving around. In one survey, 71 percent of participants said that their pets make them feel better when they’re a bit down. Another study found that animal companionship is conducive to higher survival rates in coronary disease, while in patients who had recently suffered from a heart attack the mortality rate among people with pets was one-third that of patients without animal companionship.

In the USA, results from a study of 100 Medicare patients showed that animal guardians visit their doctors 21 percent less often, use less medicine than those without animals, and recover faster from surgery and illness. A study of Australian households found that the presence of a pet leads to health savings between $790 million and $1.5 billion.

A key benefit that animals play in the psychological health of older people is combating loneliness. A study from Pets Are Wonderful Support found that recently-widowed women who owned pets experienced significantly fewer symptoms of physical and psychological disease and reported lower medication use than widows who did not own pets. Linda Anderson, co-founder of the the Angel Animals Network in Minneapolis, reports that “older pet owners have often told us how incredibly barren and lonely their lives were without their pet’s companionship, even when there were some downsides to having an active pet.”

Whether you are adopting an animal for yourself or for an elderly friend or relative, there are some important things to keep in mind. For some older people, a dog might be just the friend they need to keep them moving; others may prefer a cat who can curl up with them on the couch or in bed. For older people an older dog or cat can make the perfect companion, and in some places there are shelter programs geared towards senior humans adopting senior animals.

Having a companion animal in one’s life can be incredibly beneficial at any stage of life, and our senior years are no exception. Animal shelters are full of senior animals waiting to be rescued, and they have so much to offer. Seniors rescuing seniors, both ways round!