Ask any pet owner, the bond between a human and their pet is like no other. Join Dr.Jessica Bibbo –researcher and author – as she describes that bond and the physical, psychological and social benefits from sharing our lives with pets. Dr. Bibbo will also discuss the challenges people and pets may face as they age together along with ways to meet those challenges, including what to consider when choosing a pet in order to continue enjoying the human-animal bond throughout our lives. 

 

Jessica Bibbo, Ph.D. is a Senior Research Scientist at the Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging in Cleveland, Ohio. Dr. Bibbo’s research focuses on aging, caregiving, and human-animal interaction. Their work investigates the impact of pet ownership and the human-animal bond on the lives of older adults and their families, including caregivers. Dr. Bibbo is the author of multiple peer-reviewed research articles and book chapters on the impact of pets in older adulthood.