If you're thinking about retirement, especially if you live alone, it might be time to consider adopting a pet!
According to a story in USA Today, pets can provide real benefits to people of all ages, but to the elderly in particular.
"Some retirees may not have the opportunity to give or receive a lot of nurturing," Alan Beck, director of the Center for the Human-Animal Bond at Purdue University's College of Veterinary Medicine, says in the article. "Just having a small pet or even feeding the fish in the fish tank is a reminder of caregiving, which brings a certain amount of psychological and physical relaxation."
Pets also provide unconditional love, and the need for a structured day. They also provide a good source of exercise, and can even be a conversation starter in social situations.
For an elderly person who doesn't get out much, having a pet may just be the thing that reconnects them to the world.
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According to USA Today, " Studies show that you are more likely to engage in conversation with others if you are out walking the dog."
