https://www.animalsforelders.org/news daily 0.75 2026-09-03 https://www.animalsforelders.org/news/p10wcesoocxmwe18xaj978hkz3zn3x monthly 0.5 2026-09-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6568df0e5a63f5200997508d/1788473509315-HRWLSDKJLQMAE1RU303C/unsplash-image-bSXk1lOp8T0.jpg News - Choosing the Right Pet for a Senior's Lifestyle - Choosing the Right Pet for a Senior's Lifestyle: Energy Level, Size, and Mobility Considerations More than half of adults 50 and older share their home with a pet, and a 2025 University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging found that 57% of adults 50 to 80 currently own one. The benefits are real: 83% of those pet owners say their pet gives them a sense of purpose, and 44% say their pet keeps them more physically active. But the poll also found something worth pausing on. None of those benefits are automatic. They depend heavily on choosing a pet that actually fits the life the person already has, not the life they wish they had more energy for. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6568df0e5a63f5200997508d/1788473832771-QUTYCYWGFQ0HR7CQD4AD/unsplash-image-9gz3wfHr65U.jpg News - Choosing the Right Pet for a Senior's Lifestyle https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6568df0e5a63f5200997508d/1788473858104-FCJBQA2PLQJ0OZ494FI6/unsplash-image-7KGaAh7OaA8.jpg News - Choosing the Right Pet for a Senior's Lifestyle https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6568df0e5a63f5200997508d/1788473885351-59PADUONEZ8GGBZBO6UT/unsplash-image-Jo3epxywq8Q.jpg News - Choosing the Right Pet for a Senior's Lifestyle https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6568df0e5a63f5200997508d/1788474156715-9DX3ZRLWH82WR5HHHL5O/unsplash-image-b5xBp6_AXsQ.jpg News - Choosing the Right Pet for a Senior's Lifestyle - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6568df0e5a63f5200997508d/1788474314675-CIB5TX9EM136RWTGTXDH/unsplash-image-2cP5o3lg2pE.jpg News - Choosing the Right Pet for a Senior's Lifestyle - That's exactly the gap AFE's grant program is built to close. If you're 70 or older and the cost of adopting, or of keeping a pet you already have, is the only thing standing in the way, we can help cover up to $1,500 a year in approved expenses. Our shelter partners, like Ruff Start Rescue, can also help you think through energy level, size, and mobility in person, since they know their animals best. Learn more about the grant program, or reach out to us directly at hello@animalsforelders.org if you'd like help finding the right fit. https://www.animalsforelders.org/news/everything-you-need-to-know-about-applying-for-financial-aid monthly 0.5 2026-09-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6568df0e5a63f5200997508d/1788461554617-M3P22YUQB5G1VYVPFP3Y/unsplash-image-v3-zcCWMjgM.jpg News - Everything you need to know about applying for financial aid - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6568df0e5a63f5200997508d/1788462017491-0LFZA9RXIXC7I7P7PHZO/unsplash-image-ppKcYi1CXcI.jpg News - Everything you need to know about applying for financial aid - Who Can Apply? The program is open to adults aged 70 or older who live in Minnesota and are adopting, or have recently adopted, a companion animal through a participating shelter or rescue partner, such as Ruff Start Rescue. Applicants also need to demonstrate a financial barrier that makes it hard to cover adoption or ongoing pet care costs on their own. You don't have to apply alone. A family member, caregiver, or social worker can submit an application on someone's behalf, as long as it's done with that person's knowledge and consent. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6568df0e5a63f5200997508d/1788462419651-1J93IT5EU0HBJM70QM69/unsplash-image-anxH9uVQh0s.jpg News - Everything you need to know about applying for financial aid - What the grant covers Approved applicants can receive up to $1,500 per calendar year toward: Adoption fees, paid directly to the shelter partner Post-adoption pre-approved veterinary care Ongoing pet expenses, including food, supplies, and preventative care Because the program runs on limited funding, AFE accepts a set number of new applicants each calendar year, reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis. If you're considering applying, it's worth doing so as early as you can. https://www.animalsforelders.org/news/why-pet-companionship-matters monthly 0.5 2026-09-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6568df0e5a63f5200997508d/1788459061244-WXPSLTT0TXBO9X0UK8MH/unsplash-image-eEJBW5w416o.jpg News - Why pet companionship matters - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6568df0e5a63f5200997508d/1788457925923-BEKFUYABZMN9FS6FF8UA/unsplash-image-6-H23dfH7Qo.jpg News - Why pet companionship matters - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6568df0e5a63f5200997508d/1788458442215-4R8MVF23P8X1OD3NUJCO/unsplash-image-u_CvU45FLH8.jpg News - Why pet companionship matters - The physical benefits, blood pressure included The connection between a wagging tail and a calmer nervous system isn't just anecdotal. Neuropsychologist Dr. Thomas Schweinberg has described the effect of pets on older adults as genuinely therapeutic, noting that animal companionship helps reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and increase social interaction, all while giving someone a renewed sense of purpose through the simple act of caring for another living being. Veterinarian Dr. Michelle Radwanski sums up the everyday version of this: "Animals improve our mood, improve our health, and make us smile more." 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