Bickford of Saginaw Township

Oh, my stomach hurts from laughing so hard! The resident's LOVED the Italian Day live entertainment!

Great reasons why Bickford is PET FRIENDLY! The Benefits of Pet Ownership for the Elderly Animals can help reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and increase social interaction and physical activity. Pets provide other intangibles, too. “Dogs and cats live very much in the present,” says Dr. Jay P. Granat, a New Jersey-based psychotherapist. “They don’t worry about tomorrow, which can be a very scary concept for an older person. An animal embodies that sense of here and now, and it tends to rub off on people.” Pets can also have an astounding effect on symptoms of depression and feelings of loneliness. Older pet owners have often said how incredibly barren and lonely their lives were without their pets’ companionship, even when there were some downsides to owning an active pet. Psychologist Penny B. Donnenfeld, who brings her own golden retriever mix, Sandee, to her New York City office, has even witnessed animals’ ability to prompt better memory recall in their elderly owners. “I’ve seen those with memory loss interact with an animal and regain access to memories from long ago,” she explains. “Having a pet helps the senior focus on something other than their physical problems and negative preoccupations about loss or aging.” Animals benefit from adoption, too, particularly when seniors adopt older pets. “These lucky animals go from the pound to paradise. Retired adopters tend to have lots of time to devote to a previously unwanted pet, forming a lasting bond,” says Chicago veterinarian Dr. Tony Kremer.

Judy taking a break from trivia to play Bernerd's favorite card game with him!

Made a residents recipe for deviled eggs!

TenderHeart came to make walker and wheel chair tote bags with the residents!