Canine Care
Canine Care: Can A Dog Help You Live Well Longer?
At the Penn Memory Center, we often recommend exercise, social engagement, and a solid support system to help people age well. Owning a dog is not on that list, but maybe it should be. For many older adults, dogs are more than companions. They’re motivators to stay active, reasons to connect with neighbors, and steady sources of comfort through life’s challenges. Emerging research suggests that that this age-old bond between humans and dogs may be one of our healthiest friendships. On this episode of The Age of Aging, we celebrate dogs, and how they might help us live long, healthy lives.
First, we hear from caregivers and dog owners about how their dogs help them care for their loved ones with dementia. Then, Professor Philip Tedeschi explains how humans’ co-evolution with dogs has made us perfect support system for one another. Lynn Cronomiz recounts how a powerful moment between a therapy dog and her mother with Alzheimer’s helped her process her mother’s passing. Finally, we explore humans’ inseparable connection with nature through the biophilia hypothesis.
Resources available on the episode webpage linked below
Dog ownership in the U.S. statistics – American Veterinary Medical Association
“2025 Alzheimer’s Facts and Figures” – Alzheimer’s Association
Listen to Season 1 Episode 4, “Diagnosing Dementia,” featuring Lynn Cronomiz
Learn more about the Insitute for Human-Animal Connection
Visit KPETS, which Lynn Cronomiz does her therapy dog work with
Learn more about the “biophilia hypothesis”
Petfinder to adopt a pet near you
Visit the American Kennel Club website for more information on dog breeds