Welcome to 
The Golden View
March 2019 Edition

Emotional Support Animals 
and Seniors
​ by Thad Murphy of Pearson Bollman Law

Emotional support animals
can provide some real benefits to the health
​and wellness of the senior population.
Most of us know what a service animal is, but the use of emotional support animals is becoming more and more common. So, what qualifies an emotional support animal? An emotional support animal is a companion animal that provides benefits to a person who has an emotional or mental health disorder. In order to be characterized as an emotional support animal, documentation from a health professional must be obtained for the animal. Most commonly, these animals are dogs, but other animals can serve as emotional support animals. It is becoming more evident that these emotional support animals can provide some real benefits to the health and wellness of the senior population. Whether depressed, dealing with ongoing disabilities, or chronic illnesses, emotional support animals can be one of the best treatment options out there.

Emotional Support Animals and Physical Health

Emotional support animals can provide a reason for seniors to get out and remain active. For example, a dog needs to be walked. Walking the dog, provides the senior with physical exercise. It is abundantly clear exercise is a much-needed part of a healthy lifestyle for seniors and can even improve mobility. The American Heart Association has even stated that people with heart disease who own a dog outlive those who do not. Similar health benefits can be found for other chronic illnesses such as diabetes. In arthritis sufferers, merely petting an animal can help with circulation and loosening the joints in the arms and hands. 

Emotional Support Animals and Mental Health

Having an emotional support animal also helps to reduce depression and anxiety. Studies have shown it can reduce the stress hormone, cortisol, and increase serotonin, a feel-good hormone. Major triggers for depression in elderly people are loneliness and isolation. With an emotional support animal, many seniors often find companionship and friendship that helps them to cope with loneliness and isolation, and can alleviate depression for the senior. It can also help in coping with a loss of a spouse. 

In addition, having an emotional support animal can provide mental stimulation for seniors. This can come in the form of talking about animals or even reading about them. This is of great benefit to those suffering from dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Often those with dementia or Alzheimer’s suffer from bouts of agitation, emotional support dogs can help to calm them down. Even when it comes to meals, those who suffer from loss of appetite due to these diseases have had improved appetite having an emotional support animal. 

Types of Emotional Support Animals

As previously stated, dogs are the most common of the emotional support animals, but there are other options. Cats, like dogs, are a fairly common choice. Birds can be an option for people who do not have a lot of space. Birds also do not require a lot of maintenance which makes them ideal for seniors. Birds come in many varieties, so be sure to research to find the right bird. Fish are an option for people who may be allergic to furry pets. The companionship offered by two legged or four legged pets is not there, but watching the fish can be calming and relaxing. There are also smaller furry animals which do not readily come mind such as rabbits, hamsters, mice, and even domestic rats. These animals also don’t require a lot of space, but can be handled and many are affectionate animals, good for companionship.

The acceptance for emotional support animals and seniors is fairly recent, but studies on the effectiveness of these animals continue to be surfacing. Service animals have proven to be of great assistance to people with disabilities over the years, but the benefits do not stop with service animals. If you or a senior loved one is experiencing chronic illness or mental disorders, consider talking to the family, doctor, and veterinarian about getting an emotional support animal. This may greatly improve quality of life and may increase the length of life.

Pearson Bollman Law specializes in elder law and helps families plan for long term care. If you have any questions or would like to register for one of our workshops on “Asset Protection for Seniors,” please feel free to contact us at (563) 265-6971.

Senior Scamming 101

One in 18 seniors will become the victim of scammers this year, and those thieves will steal $3 billion from us. Others say these figures are too low because many scams aren’t reported, and the thieves could well be getting as much as $36 billion a year.

How do the scammers con us? Maybe we did well in life and not only have money in the bank but we also receive a Social Security check every month, so we’re more relaxed about money. Maybe we didn’t do well financially and could use some extra cash if it’s offered, not recognizing a scam. We might have a medical problem, and it’s just easier to give in when we’re pushed. Often we’re lonely and are too willing to talk to people who call us, or we’re scared when they threaten us. There are many ways thieves can break down our barriers. 

What do they want? Money, any way they can get it. They want our banking information, passwords and logins, Medicare number, Social Security number — anything that will get them access to our money and identification. 

Why don’t we turn them in when we get scammed? We’re embarrassed ... shocked that someone did this to us and that we fell for it.

How do they get to us? The Internet is the most likely way, or they might call on the phone. Mortgage, pretend grandchildren, Social Security, home repairs, sweepstakes prizes, Medicare, phony IRS calls, investments, counterfeit drugs — all of these and more are associated with scams against seniors.

​If you haven’t taken a scam class at the senior center, do so. Or if none is offered, ask for one to be created. Out of approximately 20 people in a class, at least one has already been victimized.
© 2019 King Features Synd., Inc.

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The Dubuque Symphony presents Mozart’s The Magic Flute
by Kathleen Hoeper, Director of Marketing & Community Relations, Dubuque Symphony Orchestra

The Dubuque Symphony Orchestra closes its 2018-19 elements-themed season with a staged production of Mozart’s The Magic Flute. 

Sung and spoken in its original German, this production will have English translations projected above the stage. 

Visionary stage director Sarah Hartmann, returns with a fresh interpretation of this beloved opera. Hartmann created (and acted in) the DSO’s groundbreaking Romeo and Juliet “Star-Crossed” program in March of 2018.

The cast:
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Pamina (Rose Sawvell) is our heroine and the daughter of the Queen of the Night. She’s locked up in the house of Sarastro, but confidently overcomes and finds her true companion.
Tamino (Chris Carr), our hero, is a young man who sets out on an adventure to face his fears and find true love
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The Queen of the Night (Megan Gloss) is a mother whose daughter has been kidnapped and seeks Tamino’s help. But is there more to her than meets the eye?
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Sarastro (Rhys Lloyd Talbot) is the High Priest of the Sun. At the start of the opera, he is cast as the villain, but soon his benevolence is revealed.
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Monostatos (Craig Allen) is the cruel and greedy servant of Sarastro who goes after anything
he wants.
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Papageno (Mario Diaz-Moresco) is a bird-catcher who sells his birds to the Queen of the Night. He’s just a simple guy who dreams of having a girlfriend.
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Papagena (Katie Galliart), a cheerful, simple girl disguised as an old woman, is looking forward to finding a husband and settling down to have some little baby chicks.

The Queen of the Night has three ladies, (CJ Greer, Rachel Warrick, Anna Petrie), who are her attendants and do her bidding.

Three Spirits are sent to guide Papageno and Tamino on their dangerous path.

“The Magic Flute is such a special opera,” notes Music Director and Conductor, William Intriligator. “It is an incredible combination of fairytale and romance with some of the most sublime music and exulted themes one can imagine. This is a story that can be enjoyed by all ages! I remember loving it when I was a young child. Mozart includes some of the most familiar and basic of themes such as finding your soulmate, falling in love, bravery, discovering right from wrong and truth from lies. Mozart’s music captures it all. Don’t miss a rare opportunity to see this beautiful story performed live in Dubuque!”

7:30 pm Saturday, April 13
2:00 pm Sunday, April 14 
Five Flags Theater, 
downtown Dubuque 

Tickets ($18-87) are available at dubuquesymphony.org or save online fees and purchase direct at Five Flags box office (corner of 4th & Locust, M-F 10am-5pm or in theater lobby one hour before show, based on availability). 

​Information about discounted Group Sales tickets for 10 or more may be obtained by contacting the DSO office at 563-557-1677 or info@dubuquesymphony.org.
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