Why pets are good company

Alan Beck, director of the Center for the Human-Animal Bond at Purdue University, says pet therapy could be a key form of treatment in the future. While research is still fairly limited, Beck says the number of studies that do exist all point in the same direction — that pets are proven to benefit mental and physical health and could have a place in medicine and wellbeing.

Horses: activities such as leading and grooming horses have been proven to minimise symptoms of PTSD in youth, and improve wellbeing in people with disabilities, a Frontiers in Psychology study found. Dogs: research in PLOS shows that children with reading difficulties improved and showed less fear when reading aloud to a trained dog and handler. Crickets: even insects can make a difference. A study in Gerontology that asked elderly people to care for crickets discovered that their depression was reduced dramatically, compared to guided group sessions.

Guinea pigs: scientists from The University of Queensland found that children with autism were more social and less stressed when a guinea pig was present during schooltime.

Benefits of Owning a Cat. Pets in the workplace. The emotional connection we have with dogs. Pets in bed lead to better sleep. Therapy dogs help teach school children the benefit of reading. No matter if you have a sprawling yard or just a few pots Veterinary surgeon Dr Ros Dench and anthropologist Vedrana Two experts share the health benefits of a low-carb diet, The new wellness trend of moon milk seems to be taking the You must be logged in to post a comment.

Not only does Rudolph keep Evans company, he takes a starring role in marketing the business on social media. Unfortunately, our furry home working friends have shorter lives than we do, and the loss of a pet after many years of constant companionship can be a bitter blow to a home worker.

Annette Morris was devastated last year by the unexpected death of her eight-year-old weimaraner, Nibs. Morris lives and works at home in the Montpellier area of France. She says: "We don't have children and my partner is out all day. My dog was my constant companion, and it is so hard to focus on work without him somewhere out the corner of my eye, or under my desk.

The memories are everywhere. Morris found that trying to put a brave face on things and carry on "business as usual" made her feel worse, and she was reluctant to tell clients that she was grieving for a pet and not a person. Fortunately the flexibility of home working allowed her the time to recover from Nibs's death and she is now the owner of two lively young dogs. Even if you don't want to keep a pet, many home workers enjoy observing wildlife in their gardens or the surrounding countryside.

From watching birds at a feeder fixed to a home office window to chuckling at the lambs currently leaping around in the fields, it's good to be drawn out of the closed world of living and working in the same place. Judy Heminsley is the founder of Work from Home Wisdom , a blog that provides advice and inspiration for home workers.

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Live in care What is live-in care? Who is live-in care for? Why pets are the perfect companion for the elderly. Posted on 23rd August Here are just a handful of the health benefits that come with the joy of having an animal companion: Helping to ease stress and anxiety The companionship of a beloved pet can bring comfort, help to ease anxiety and build self-confidence for those who are anxious about going out into their local community.

Keeping you active Having a pet is a really effective way of keeping you active in your elderly years. Helping you to cope with grief Nothing compares to the joy of coming home to a loving companion, especially if you have recently lost your lifelong partner. Beating loneliness Isolation and loneliness can often trigger symptoms of depression, but with the unconditional love of a pet, their companionship can alleviate these symptoms and give you a sense of purpose.

Sense of security As we grow older we tend to become more frail, subsequently leading us to feel more vulnerable in the place where we should feel our safest. Live-in care for owners and their pets Acknowledging the need for extra support can be unnerving, especially if you have a beloved pet that relies on you. Written by About Latest Posts. Lauren Knowles joined the Helping Hands team in April Read Lauren's full profile.