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By Liz O'Connell
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A Reddit user who returned to a nursing home to visit a family member was greeted by a furry visitor he met nine years earlier.
Adam, who is known on Reddit as adamchain, first visited the nursing home outside of Philadelphia when his grandmother stayed there. Right around the time she moved into the facility, the nursing home added a resident cat named Ginger.
Nine years later, Adam went to the same nursing home to visit his great-uncle, who was now living there. And much to his surprise, Ginger the orange cat never left.
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He took to Reddit to share his delight in a post last Monday. The caption reads: "Look who's still here."
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The photos of Ginger showed he meant business. He had to make his rounds to all the residents, giving them love, snuggles and comfort. And it's not like he doesn't get anything in return. There's no doubt that Ginger is getting all the attention his little heart could want from residents and visitors.
Adam told Newsweek via Reddit he was shocked to see Ginger, but "It was so nice to see him again." He's a familiar, friendly face that his grandmother and great-uncle have now gotten to know over the years.
His Reddit post, which was shared to the subreddit page r/aww, had more than 8,600 likes and 109 comments. Users were thrilled to see Ginger still going strong.
"Nine years? He has a long time to go and I am pretty sure that he's loved and coddled by everyone around him," commented a Reddit user.
Someone else pointed out: "The positive effects that can come from an older person interacting with an animal are awesome! There was a dog at my dad's assisted-living place who was a character. Ginger is a beautiful kitty."
Pet Benefits for Seniors
While cats positively impact people's lives, it especially rings true with seniors. American Humane said that cats can help improve a senior's health and mood.
Seniors often become lonely after they retire, lose a spouse, or if their children move away. Some might be depressed. However, studies have shown that pets can help seniors overcome loneliness and depression through affection, company and entertainment. Pets can give them a sense of responsibility.
Just as much as pets help mentally, they can help physically, too. Cats require fairly minimal care, but they still give their older owners much-needed exercise. Seniors will need to scoop up their litter boxes, feed them and give them fresh water. Plus, cats will give owners a sense of routine, which in turn gives them mental stimulation.
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
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