16 Of a certain age Wednesday, September 18, 2019 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon Of a certain age... .18.19 Living the best years of your life in Sisters 9 Finding your next adventure ........... pg. 18 Aging gracefully in an anti-aging world .. pg. 19 Seeking guidance to navigate aging .... pg. 21 Navigating the Medicare maze ....pg. 23 ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/JACOBLUND Paw Prints Jodi Schneider McNamee Columnist Companion pets for older adults Anyone who has ever stroked a dog9s soft ears or felt the gentle rumble of a cat9s purr knows the calming feeling an animal can offer. Animals offer compan- ionship and unconditional love; they can improve health and general well- being, especially in the older adult population. The most serious problem for older adults is not dis- ease; it9s loneliness. Elderly people, especially those liv- ing in residential care facili- ties, are at a higher risk for developing depression. When they are without a spouse or children around to keep them company, many seniors begin to feel isolated. Studies have shown that companion animals have the ability to lift the spir- its of people who live alone and provide unconditional friendship and enrichment. Research studies have found that having a pet has significant benefits for seniors9 mental, physical, and emotional health 4 in other words, pets are good for your body and soul. Dogs are great for providing physical exercise, socializa- tion, and overall day-to-day Sisters’ Year-Round Residential & Commercial Window Cleaning companionship. Getting out for a daily walk, or even just playing with a dog indoors, is an enjoyable form of activity, and seniors can choose a dog whose exercise demands are equal with their own needs and physical limitations. With the increasing num- bers of pet-friendly assisted living communities, more seniors than ever are able to keep their longtime compan- ions with them in the next stage of their lives. Alea Schliep, life enrich- ment coordinator from The Lodge in Sisters, told The Nugget a special story of how a lonely resident9s life turned around after adopting a small dog.