A UGA researcher has a new research project that she’s hoping will help alleviate loneliness in elderly people.
Heidi Ewenis hoping that fostering cats may help seniors in the Athens community to feel a little less alone.
“Loneliness is a really big problem among older people, particularly those who live alone, and that’s the population we’re targeting,” said Ewen.
But the benefits go both ways. Ewen said that this will also give the cats a temporary home and get them out of the shelter.
Ewen plans to conduct surveys to see if having the cat changes the senior’s quality of life. And she’s excited about the results, because it’s the first study of it’s kind.
“It’s going to be a pilot assessment. After we get the preliminary results of this study then that will lead to further studies to see how exactly this pet fostering will help improve the lives of both the people and the cats,” said Ewen.
Ewen says that she is still recruiting elderly participants for the study. Those interested in signing up to foster a cat can email her at hewen@uga.edu