Companionship is something that is essential to our human condition. From the beginning of time, human beings have desired to live in community with one another. Even before the advent of villages and towns individuals were yoked together through families. Spouses and children are proof of a desire to not be alone.
Sometimes a spouse or children do not come our way. Even if they do, children grow and move out on their own and one spouse outlives another. When through one circumstance or another we find ourselves alone, many of us cling to our pets—a most wonderful form of comfort and companionship.
Now Miss Toast (as I call her) is a tremendous companion and friend. She is often sitting in the basement window when I come home from work. When she sees me approaching the door, she immediately runs upstairs to greet me. Though she was very shy when I brought her home from the shelter, she soon became comfortable with my presence in her home. She also feels the need to be in whichever room in the house I happen to be in at any given moment. I find myself speaking to her as I would a person, like when I tell her at the crack of dawn that she need not continue meowing as I am getting up and aware she wants her breakfast. Though she is dependent on me for food, water, shelter, and clean litter, I, like many, rely on my pet’s presence to combat loneliness. Cats (and dogs) are family. We need one another in equal measure.
Elderly folks rely on their pets to fill a void in their lives. Pets help us not to feel so isolated. They allow us to love and be loved unconditionally. It is hard to overstate how important pets are to our seniors. Primacare Companions help with day-to-day living for our clients, but we cannot even totally replicate the devotion of a beloved pet. Pets also give us a sense of purpose. After all, our furry friends cannot feed themselves. Having a pet means there is one in the home that is dependent upon us for their existence and well-being. Having purpose in life is an incentive to press on when life becomes difficult because my pet needs me.
Having pets is not a one-sided affair; we give, and we receive. It is the perfect relationship.
If you or a loved one could benefit from dependable support, the caring team at Primacare Companions is here to help. We provide trusted, compassionate in-home care in Baltimore, MD, designed to support comfort, confidence, and independence every day. Call us today at (410) 988-NURS(6877) to learn more about how we can assist your family.
Primacare Companions proudly serves Baltimore, Catonsville, Halethorpe, Owings Mills, Reisterstown, Linthicum, Arbutus, Columbia, Ellicott City, Hanover, and surrounding areas, delivering courteous, consistent, and compassionate support wherever you call home.
