Elderly people benefit just as much, if not more from the effects of a companion animal. While the physical benefits are still worthy and present, the social impact dogs have is more prominent for the elderly. Many elderly people get a dog because they’re lonely in their old age. Perhaps the biggest reason dogs impact the elderly so strongly is is in part due too the fact that dogs are dependent on human caretakers, which means even if a person doesn’t want to deal with a pet, they have too. Thus enabling them to do day to day activities longer than pet-less counterparts.
