Pets are companions for a lifetime, but pet care treatment costs are not cheap. In fact, there are many pros and cons to owning pet (according to environmental-conscience.com), like:
Pro: Can help with emotional pain
Con: Care can be time-consuming
Pro: Can reduce stress levels
Con: You may need a veterinarian
Pro: Keeps you company
Con: You will be liable for your pet
Pro: Good for people who live alone
Con: Can be unpredictable
Pro: You can do good if you get shelter pets
Con: Can hurt your sleep
Pro: Can teach you patience
Con: Need to clean your home more often
If you are experiencing chronic medical conditions or caring for a person with Dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, a live pet may just be too difficult to navigate.
An assisted robotic pet may be just what you need! Interactive Companion Pets are proven to achieve all the benefits of owning a real pet but without the cost or burden of care.
A person with Dementia or Alzheimer’s can love, think, respond, play, and have relationships. They experience and express human emotions, respond to music, access memories of long ago, respond to nature, and recognize facial expressions and gestures. They also understand the meaning of human touch.
An interactive companion pet ensures a person’s well-being. They will feel useful, feel a sense of accomplishment, have a meaningful positive activity, and be able to care for something. The pet would also give them a chance to express love and other positive emotions, feel respected, and be empowered to make choices and have positive social interactions. The use of a companion pet has been shown to improve feelings of self-worth, mood, and physical response, as well as decrease anxiety, agitation and burden on the caregiver. This leaves both the caregiver and loved one with a sense of purpose after a happy and successful day.
If you think a companion pet would be a positive addition to your loved one’s life, CareWell Services have a number of dogs and cats available. The pet is free for the loved one suffering dementia. Please call us (269) 441-0930 for more information.