Success Made to Last from Mars Petcare celebrating Mental Health Month with pets

 According to an AARP survey, one in three adults aged 45 and older are lonely[1]. And research shows loneliness is as deadly as smoking 15 cigarettes per day[2], making it as much a public health concern as obesity. HAS MONTHS OF SOCIAL DISTANCING DURING THE PANDEMIC LEFT YOU FEELING A BIT LONELY? IT’S TAKEN AN EMOTIONAL TOLL ON PEOPLE OF ALL AGES… AND A NEW STUDY IS TAKING A CLOSER LOOK AT HOW THERAPY DOGS CAN HELP - ESPECIALLY FOR OLDER AMERICANS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING LONELINESS. HERE WITH A CLOSER LOOK AT THE POWER OF THE HUMAN-ANIMAL BOND, AND THE ROLE OUR FOUR-LEGGED FRIENDS COULD PLAY IN EASING LONELINESS, IS DR. ANGELA HUGHES, WHO IS A Veterinarian from Mars Petcare AND DR. NANCY GEE, DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER FOR HUMAN-ANIMAL INTERACTION AT VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY. ANGELA-HOW HAS THE PANDEMIC SHED LIGHT ON THE PROBLEM OF LONELINESS? NANCY-HOW ARE OLDER AMERICANS VULNERABLE TO LONELINESS AND WHAT IS THE HEALTH IMPACT? ANGELA-OWNING A PET COMES WITH A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITIES, BUT ARE THERE OTHER WAYS WHERE PEOPLE CAN SPEND TIME WITH ANIMALS TO HELP ALLEVIATE THEIR LONELINESS? NANCY-CAN YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT THE NEW STUDY, AND HOW IT WILL EXPLORE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF INTERACTING WITH A THERAPY DOG TO IMPROVE LONELINESS? NANCY-AND GIVEN THIS STUDY INVOLVES HUMANS &ANIMALS, HOW WILL YOU BE MONITORING THEM BOTH FOR THEIR WELLBEING DURING THE STUDY?   ANGELA-ONCE WE KNOW THE RESULTS OF THE STUDY, WHAT DO YOU HOPE WILL CHANGE?      Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/success-made-to-last-legends--4302039/support.