Translated by Nick R
Birds and older adults can have very rewarding relationships, answering the physical and emotional needs that often come with age. Plus, most species can be much easier to care for compared to other types of pets, so join me to learn more.
Table of Contents
Why should elder people have a bird?
Older adults come to a point in their lives in which they have many needs, not only for their health but also emotional and mental. Many of these needs can be addressed through medical, psychological, and pharmacological treatments, however, people’s well-being is also linked to their quality of life, which includes good daily habits, interpersonal relationships, and the ability to perform daily tasks. Here is where birds are the best pet option to accompany grandparents.
Benefits
- Birds are easy to care for compared to other types of pets, as well as economical.
- They are the perfect pet for those with mobility problems since not all need to be taken out of the cage for a walk.
- They are the ideal pet for people who spend a lot of time at home as they will fill the space with singing or chirping, depending on the type of bird you adopt.
- Birds are considered among the pets that help reduce stress and blood pressure.
- The company of a bird, especially psittaciformes (parrots), helps to treat symptoms of depression, feelings of loneliness, and people with after-effects of post-traumatic events because they are very emotional and social species that bond with their owners.
- Birds and pets usually help to cope with negative thoughts about aging or the loss of loved ones.
- They can be an alternative for those who are allergic to dog or cat hair.
Disadvantages
- Birds produce dust on their wings which can be harmful to older adults with respiratory or asthma problems.
- Some birds need much more attention, it is important that you know which bird is best suited to the senior’s living conditions in order to take good care of it.
- Although they are easy to care for, neglecting basic aspects such as cleaning or feeding can make both the bird and the elderly person sick.
- Birds are delicate to handle if they are very small, squeezing them in the hands can cause injuries.
What should the senior consider before adopting a bird?
Before deciding whether a senior adult can care for a bird, it’s important to consider several things:
- The previous experience the senior has had to care for birds, if not, you should consider whether they are willing to effectively care for their new pet.
- Someone else should be aware of the conditions in which the bird is being cared for, not as a watchdog but to verify that everything is in perfect condition and help organize what is needed.
- Consider who will assist the bird in case it needs to be taken to the veterinarian, as well as the coverage of expenses required for its treatment.
- Check that the bird is in perfect condition before taking it home with the senior.
- Find out if the bird is already trained or needs to be trained and by whom.
- Check if the bird can be properly cared for by the senior, especially because of the extra attention and care they require.
- Try to check also if the bird needs a partner of the opposite sex since in those cases it is very likely that they will have offspring and the care will be a little more complicated.
- Depending on the age of the senior and although it may seem uncomfortable, it will be good to consider what to do with the bird in case the owner needs to be taken to a hospital, hospitalized, or dies.
Activities
In our blog, we have various articles that can help you to know a little more about the activities that the older adult can share such as some tricks, recipes, and how to tame him or teach him to talk, although there are also others such as:
Talking and playing
For the older adult, playing with them outside the cage and talking to them is a good activity to discharge emotions and distract the mind from negative thoughts, birds such as Australian parakeets, cockatiels or lovebirds will be the perfect company for this task.
On the other hand, birds that can imitate human words such as some species of parrots and cockatoos can help people who are in speech therapy and require constant talking.
Admiring and listening
If, on the other hand, the older adult who wishes to have a pet bird is a much calmer person and has little time to share with him, he can simply watch him in his cage and listen to his song, which helps reduce stress levels. For this task, the ideal birds are canaries and zebra finches or mandarins.
Types of birds for seniors
The best birds for seniors are smaller birds because they are easier to care for and do not need much space.
Cockatiels
This species is ideal for seniors who want to have a songbird to listen to, but also to share and play with for a while. Cockatiels have a variety of colors and personalities.
Australian Parakeets
Australian parakeets are another alternative similar to cockatiels. Besides their many colors, they have a particular song that can sometimes turn into a scream, so the senior should have the patience to listen to them chattering or have a space to not listen to them.
Australian parakeets also have a variety of personalities, which makes them highly sociable and attentive, while they need elements to play with and a partner to share the cage with.
Canaries
Canaries are the preferred pet when it comes to convenience since in addition to having bright colors and beautiful songs, they don’t require too much attention and are perfect birds to appreciate without much attention, such as playing or interacting.
Zebra Diamonds
Zebra Diamonds don’t need much human attention either, however, they do need to be kept in a cage with several companions (between 3 or 4) since they are very sociable, some people have been able to train them and make them leave the cage without any problem.
The singing of zebra finches is very particular, especially because only males are able to sing and their singing is similar to that of dog toys, with the difference that they are continuous, lower, and in different tonalities.
Conclusions
Without a doubt, birds are pets that can surprise everyone, they are very intelligent, sociable, and beautiful, a senior will certainly find in them an unconditional companion to share their days with and to establish bonds.
