()Many older adults feel isolated and lonely as they age. Pets can help them to find the companionship and love they need. Home Instead, Inc., the franchisor for the Home Instead Senior Care Network, conducted a new survey that found that regular contact with animals can reduce loneliness and isolation in seniors.

Pet ownership is a great way to have companionship, love and support, as well as entertainment and better mood. A majority of pet owners feel less content without their pets, with 86 percent saying they would be lonely and less happy. And 58 percent say they wouldn’t be as healthy and fit without them.

For those who are at greatest risk of isolation, the companionship and love offered by a pet can prove to be very meaningful. Home Instead found that pet owners who live by themselves are much more likely than others to enjoy the benefits of pet ownership.

A pet is an important aspect of seniors’ decision-making about where they will live. The survey found that 82 percent of seniors would not consider moving into a senior living facility without their pet.

Home Instead’s research shows that older adults can benefit from interaction with animals. People who interact with pets, even if they don’t own them, report feeling happier spending time with family, friends, and neighbors.

Seniors can still interact with their pets in many different ways. Here are some suggestions:

* Volunteer at a rescue organization or animal shelter. Volunteers are needed at many rescue and animal shelters. Seniors can assist in caring for animals by feeding, watering and restocking supplies. They can also walk dogs, clean cages and enclosures, and socialize with the animals. Volunteers have the opportunity to interact with pets and can help provide some assistance to animals in need.

* Get to know your neighbors’ pets. Seniors will often see their neighbors walking their dogs. You might make new friends with your neighbors and dogs by asking them to join you on a walk.

* Connect with a therapy animal. Pet Partners therapy teams are made up of pet owners and their registered animals. They visit many places where seniors live or are being treated such as hospitals, hospices, care communities, and other facilities.

* Visit a pet store. Many pet stores sell small animals such as guinea and hamsters, mice and rats, bearded dragons and snakes, certain geckos and certain types of frogs. Visits can be a great way to get your pet fixed!

There are so many options, it should not be difficult to find the right animal interaction for you.

To help older adults determine what type of pet interaction is right for them, the Home Instead Senior Care® network is offering free information and tips to help seniors incorporate animals into their lives. For more information on how seniors can adopt animals into their lives visit PetsandSeniors.com. You can also contact your local Home Instead senior care office. www.homeinstead.com.