We know pets rock, but what they can do for seniors is amazing.
Three noteworthy reasons why pet-assisted therapy helps seniors in a big way.
At times, becoming a senior citizen isn't such a wonderful experience.
Sure, there are lots of things that are great about getting older. But there can also be emotional and physical pain, along with bouts of loneliness and depression that can make each day extremely difficult for the elderly and their loved ones.
Thankfully, there is some good news.
We all know that great feeling we get when we hug a friendly animal, right?
Nowadays, more health organizations are using animals to help their patients and residents feel better, too. It's especially true for seniors.
Mary Farkas, director of therapeutic activities for the Hebrew Home by RiverSpring Health in Riverdale, New York, believes the benefits of animal-assisted therapy are big. Her facility implemented the Pet-Pals program that allows animals to interact with its residents on a regular basis.
The dogs all undergo training and are either Canine Good Citizens or in the process of becoming one.
Meet Luca, one of the amazing therapy dogs at the Hebrew Home at Riverdale. Photo from RiverSpring Health, used with permission.
"They are temperament tested to be sure they are appropriate for this kind of work," Mary told Upworthy. "They also receive ongoing training from our trainer."
Here are three noteworthy ways animal-assisted therapy adds a little sunshine to the lives of seniors.
1. Pets help with their memory.
Studies have shown that seniors' minds are stimulated while they're interacting with animals and after the animals have left.
Hebrew Home at Riverdale resident Edythe Kershnar enjoys the company of pet therapy dogs Kiki (left) and Max. Photo from RiverSpring Health, used with permission.
"We have residents who have raised puppies in their younger days, and they can recall vivid memories as soon as they see our therapy dogs," Mary told Upworthy. "It's really great to see."
Not only that, interacting with pets also helps stimulate their minds because they remember the animals' names.
Check out Hebrew Home resident Beverly Herzog with her pet therapy dog, Marley.
"Oftentimes Beverly asks if Marley is going to give her a kiss today," said Catherine Farrell, assistant director of therapeutic activities at the Hebrew Home at Riverdale. "It's almost as if Marley is hers."
And yes, Beverly gets those kisses from her pal, Marley.
Pet smooches for Beverly!
2. Pets help get them out of their shell.
Sadly, many seniors become lonely and solitary as the days go by. That results in a lot less talking.
But when therapy pets are brought into the equation, loneliness is reduced significantly and they help seniors become more social.
"Some of our residents don't communicate verbally on a regular basis," Mary said. "But when they see our pets, they'll usually make a point to speak to the animals. It's wonderful to see them break out of their shells."
Hebrew Home at Riverdale resident Phyllis Johnson gives some cuddles. Photo from RiverSpring Health, used with permission.
3. Pets simply make them happier.
There are many benefits to animal-assisted therapy for seniors, ranging from lower blood pressure to increased amounts of exercise, but arguably the most important one is how happy pets make everyone around them.
Even the individuals who are not being treated feel happier when observing a pet therapy session.
"Our residents show so much joy and excitement when they are around our therapy pets," Catherine said. "It makes everything worthwhile."
Hebrew Home at Riverdale resident Ethel Brown has a laugh with Marley. Photo from RiverSpring Health, used with permission.
Beaver in water. Photo by 
An actual beaver dam on the now-thriving Price River
Not just coworkers—family, friends, strangers, kids…
Imagine having to go so badly but being out of euros. 
Anything hobbit-esque can't be wrong. 
But what if you need pain meds AND mascara?!
Imagine how this would affect childcare.
Honestly…where's the lie?
A brown buddha statue sits near a green mountain. Photo by 
Urgent dash to the bathroom! 🚪🏃♂️
Ladybug unexpectedly found during colonoscopyPhoto credit: 
Close-up of bottom of ladybug found in colonPhoto credit: 
There's a reason why some people can perfectly copy accents, and others can't
Turns out, there's a neurodivergent link.
A woman in black long sleeve shirt stands in front of mirror.
Have you ever had that friend who goes on vacation for four days to London and comes back with a full-on Queen's English posh accent? "Oooh I left my brolly in the loo," they say, and you respond, "But you're from Colorado!" Well, there are reasons they (and many of us) do that, and usually it's on a pretty subconscious level.
It's called "accent mirroring," and it's actually quite common with people who are neurodivergent, particularly those with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). According Neurolaunch, the self-described "Free Mental Health Library," "Accent mirroring, also known as accent adaptation or phonetic convergence, is the tendency to unconsciously adopt the accent or speech patterns of those around us. This linguistic chameleon effect is not unique to individuals with ADHD, but it appears to be more pronounced and frequent in this population."
Essentially, when people have conversations, we're constantly "scanning" for information—not just the words we're absorbing, but the inflection and tone. "When we hear an accent, our brains automatically analyze and categorize the phonetic features, prosody, and intonation patterns," writes Neurolaunch. For most, this does result in copying the accent of the person with whom we're speaking. But those with ADHD might be more sensitive to auditory cues. This, "coupled with a reduced ability to filter out or inhibit the impulse to mimic…could potentially explain the increased tendency for accent mirroring."
While the article explains further research is needed, they distinctly state that, "Accent mirroring in individuals with ADHD often manifests as an unconscious mimicry of accents in social situations. This can range from subtle shifts in pronunciation to more noticeable changes in intonation and speech rhythm. For example, a person with ADHD might find themselves unconsciously adopting a Southern drawl when conversing with someone from Texas, even if they’ve never lived in the South themselves."
People are having their say online. On the subreddit r/ADHDWomen, a thread began: "Taking on accents is an ADHD thing?" The OP shares, "My whole life, I've picked up accents. I, myself, never noticed, but everyone around me would be like, 'Why are you talking like that??' It could be after I watched a show or movie with an accent or after I've traveled somewhere with a different accent than my 'normal.'
They continue, "Apparently, I pick it up fast, but it fades out slowly. Today... I'm scrolling Instagram, I watch a reel from a comedian couple (Darcy and Jeremy. IYKYK) about how Darcy (ADHD) picks up accents everywhere they go. It's called ADHD Mirroring??? And it's another way of masking."
(The OP is referring to Darcy Michaels and his husband Jeremy Baer, who are both touring comedians based in Canada.)
Hundreds of people on the Reddit thread alone seem to relate. One comments, "Omfg I've done this my whole life; I'll even pick up on the pauses/spaces when I'm talking to someone who is ESL—but English is my first language lol."
Sometimes, it can be a real issue for those around the chameleon. "I accidentally mimicked a waitress's weird laugh one time. As soon as she was out of earshot, my family started to reprimand me, but I was already like 'oh my god I don’t know why I did that, I feel so bad.'"
Many commenters on TikTok were shocked to find out this can be a sign of ADHD. One jokes, "Omg, yes, at a store the cashier was talking to me and she was French. She's like 'Oh are you French too? No, I'm not lol. I'm very east coast Canada."
And some people just embrace it and make it work for them. "I mirror their words or phrase! I’m 30. I realized I start calling everyone sweetie cause my manager does & I work at coffee shop."