Are you wondering how you are going to care for your pet as you age
in place? Are you wondering if you should adopt a pet as you age in
place? This guide will help you decide on the best choice for you.
Studies have shown that owning a pet can be physically and mentally
beneficial for people of all ages. In the case of senior citizens, “just
15 minutes bonding with an animal sets off a chemical chain reaction in
the brain, lowering levels of the fight-or-flight hormone, cortisol,
and increasing production of the feel-good hormone serotonin. The
result: heart rate, blood pressure and stress levels immediately drop.
Over the long term, pet and human interactions can lower cholesterol
levels, fight depression and may even help protect against heart disease
and stroke” (
Byrne, 2015).
Pet Adoption for Seniors
If you are mostly immobile, a cat may be the best option because you
don’t have to walk them. A small dog that uses pee pads or a caged
animal may also be a good option. Senior dogs and cats are better for
the elderly because they are more calm, quiet, and less maintenance. Be
sure to have the pet checked out by a veterinarian. A pre-existing
illness or disease could drain your bank account or make you sick. For
those seniors who want a dog, there are many reasons to be wary of
jumping into pet adoption too quickly. The lack of mobility and
inability to drive to and from the vet, groomer, or pet store worries
them. The initial costs are usually high. They also worry that if and
when there comes a point when they can no longer care for the dog, that
the dog might be taken to a shelter and eventually euthanized. Many
seniors feel like their worsening health condition is a burden, and a
pet might possibly add to that.
Top 6 Reasons Seniors Should Adopt a Pet
There are numerous reasons for adopting a pet. From companionship to
security, pets can provide seniors a better quality of live and improve
aging in place. Finding the right pet for you or your family member is
easy, and the benefits can be far-reaching.
Matching Older Dogs with the Elderly
Pets for Seniors in Illinois created an adoption program that matches
senior dogs and senior cats with senior citizens. They worked out
solutions to the issues that seniors have with pet adoption, and the
program is very successful. The program pays for most of the adoption
fee, chooses calm and housebroken older dogs, and provides support every
step of the way. If the animal is not a good fit, the organization will
take back the pet and refund any fees. Other humane shelters around the
nation are trying to replicate this model.
Pet Therapy for Seniors
Those who work caring for the elderly say that pets pull withdrawn
seniors out of their shell, provide mild activity and cardio through
walking and grooming the pet, and offer a way to feel needed and connect
with the world. Pet therapy can also help with Alzheimer’s Sundowners
Syndrome. Nighttime can be very confusing and disorienting for folks
with Alzheimer’s disease. This is when some Alzheimer’s patients try to
run away or leave their home. A pet can prevent this issue by keeping
those with Alzheimer’s connected and occupied.
“Animals’ non-verbal communication and profound
acceptance can be soothing for those with difficulty using language;
some may even connect with memories of their own treasured pets”
“Animals’ non-verbal communication and profound acceptance can be
soothing for those with difficulty using language; some may even connect
with memories of their own treasured pets” (
Byrne, 2015). Pet
therapy has shown to improve appetite, social interaction, brain
stimulation, and tactile activity. The unconditional love of a dog
brings healing and meaning to a sometimes lonely stage in life. Ask your
doctor, physical therapist, or social worker about any pet therapy
programs in your community. Just because you give away a pet or choose
not to take one into your home, it doesn’t mean that you can’t visit
with other family pets or receive pet therapy. There are pet therapy
home visit services all over the country.
Alliance of Therapy Dogs
and Therapy Dogs International are volunteer-run organizations with
outposts all over the world. A local volunteer will come to your home
and bring a trained service dog that is very well-behaved. The dog can
play, cuddle, and perform commands during a half hour or one hour
session.
Service Dogs for Seniors
For seniors with disabilities, a service dog might be the best option. “The
Americans With Disabilities Act
(ADA) of 2011 defines service dogs as those trained to do work directly
related to a person’s disability. Emotional support animals and dogs
used as crime deterrents are excluded from this definition. A service
dog is expected to accompany a person with a disability at all times”
(Wang, 2013). Service dogs go through extensive training to remain calm
and help their owner with mobility issues. Service dog skills include:
opening doors with a strap, pushing doors closed, helping their handler
dress and undress, helping those in wheelchairs sit up straight &
place feet and arms on footrests and armrests, preventing falls, and
retrieving wheelchairs and walkers. It’s amazing the tasks these dogs
can do! In an emergency situation, service dogs are trained to perform
life-saving tasks, like retrieving medication, calling 911, opening the
door for EMT and first responders, running to get help or barking for
help after identifying an emergency, and laying down on their handler’s
chest to help them cough or breath better. For hearing impaired owners,
service dogs are trained in alerting their handlers to the presence of
other people or particular sounds, retrieving dropped objects, carrying
messages, and warning that an unseen vehicle is approaching. For
visually impaired owners, service dogs are trained in avoiding obstacles
like moving vehicles, signaling change in elevation, locating objects
on command, and retrieving dropped objects.
Find the right service dog for you.
Pets often increase the amount of exercise pet owners get versus
non-pet owners. More exercise isn’t always a good thing for older people
with injuries and susceptibility to falls. There are also some
nonprofits in existence that will help elderly folks care for their pets
when walking their dog multiple times a day or cleaning out the litter
box is too burdensome. Look to see if there is one in your area.
The Cost of Pet Ownership
It is important to make sure you have the funds to adopt a pet. Puppies
have been known to cost upwards of $800 in their first year for
healthcare, food, toys, and everything else that goes into pet care. Are
you able to spend over $500 a year on your dog or cat? If not, a bird
or fish might be a better option. In some cases, it may be necessary to
make the heartbreaking decision to give up a pet. Elderly people give up
their pets for several different reasons. They might not be physically
able to care for them anymore, they might not be allowed to have a pet
in their assisted living facility or nursing home, they might rather
spend their time traveling, or they might actually be relieved to no
longer have the responsibility.
The Risks
What you don’t hear about very often are the dangers of owning a pet as
a senior citizen. “Over 86,000 people per year have to go to the
emergency room because of falls involving their dogs and cats, and these
fractures can be devastating for the elderly,” said Judy Stevens, an
epidemiologist with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(Seliger, 2012). If you think about it, you might know someone (maybe
yourself) who has fallen trying to care for a pet.
Some studies even find that the more attached an elderly person is to
their pet, the more depressed they are. This could very well be a
correlation, not causation, but it is something to consider if you are
prone to depression or mental illness. Some doctors studying seniors and
their pets believe that the death of an animal can affect an elderly
person’s depression in a more severe way. Life can be isolating as you
age, and the death of pet could add to this stress. Other studies have
found that if you have a strong social network, having a pet makes no
difference in your happiness level. These opposing studies create
conflicting views on the subject, so it is wise to just do what’s best
for you.
You know yourself better than anyone, so be honest about whether
keeping your pet or adopting one is a good idea or not. Create a pros
and cons list. Many doctors believe that the benefits outweigh the
risks, but they might not for you. See if you can find a co-caretaker
for your pet. Is your mobility good enough to not fall when picking up a
dog that is running circles around you? Is it hard for you to bend down
to their level to clean up after a cat or dog? Asking a loved one or
volunteer agency to take care of the more physical aspects of pet care
can alleviate stress and susceptibility to accidents. If you don’t have a
close family member or friend to do this, you might have to give away
your pet. This is a hard decision, and your doctor and family can help
you make it. The downside of pet ownership is a difficult subject to
breach because no one wants to give up their beloved pet. Again,
designating a trusted family member, neighbor, or friend to come check
on you and your pet’s well-being is a great idea. If you have a
grandchild or child whom bonds with your dog or cat, they might not mind
coming over to let the dog out, or scoop out the cat litter. Don’t put
yourself in danger of breaking bones simply because you are too proud to
ask for help. Having a plan B and/or a pet helper may prevent injuries
that lead to surgery, months of rehabilitation, and a lot of emotional
stress.
How to Care for Your Pet While Aging in Place
Although, pets can do wonders for an elderly adult, the pet’s needs are
important to keep in mind as well. In some cases, an elderly person may
forget to medicate or feed their pet. They may get to the point where
walking their dog is difficult. For these reasons, choosing a designated
family member or in-home health aide that is willing to check on the
pet and help take care of it would be ideal.
Make sure you are taking care of yourself first and foremost
(Remember the oxygen mask metaphor? You can’t take care of someone if
you don’t care for yourself first). Some older folks go without food or
necessities because money is tight, and they love their dog too much to
let them suffer. Don’t be that person! Reach out to family members,
friends, neighbors who care, or a nonprofit that provides assistance to
aging pet owners. Veterinarians are good resources for finding pet care
assistance. Your well-being should be top priority.
Have a succession plan for your pet.
If you are an aging pet owner, create a succession plan you are
comfortable with early on. Designating a god-parent or guardian for your
pet in case you become ill or unable to care for the pet, is the
humane, smart path to take. This designated guardian could be a family
member, friend, neighbor, or trusted pet adoption agency.
If you do decide to give up your pet for adoption, an “open adoption” is best.
Meet with your designated guardian beforehand, so that they can bond
with your pet and see if they are really right for ownership. And, make
sure that you will be allowed to visit your pet if you are able. If a
family member or home health aide moves in to be a caregiver,
they might not be able to take care of both you and your pet.
A rambunctious, needy pet or a pet with multiple medications and a high
maintenance routine may be too much work. Caregivers may not be willing
to perform these tasks on top of other caregiving duties. This is a
decision you will have to make together.
Euthanizing a pet should be the last resort.
Some older people believe that putting their animal down is the best
option because the animal is so bonded to its owner that it would be too
depressed to bond with a new owner. This is not normally the case.
There are many options for adoption, foster care, and shelters that can
take care of your pet. Keep your pet for as long as possible, but don’t
be afraid to start the succession plan when you need to. Taking away a
pet may cause an elderly person to deteriorate mentally and physically,
so make sure to allow regular visits with the pet. Many older folks look
forward to these planned pet visits.
Conclusion
Owning a pet while aging in place is certainly not for everyone. Ask
your veterinarian, family members, and doctor if this is the right
decision for you and your health. If you are healthy enough or your
caregiver is willing enough to care for a pet, the rewards of pet
ownership can be life-changing. An aging dog, cat, or even bird could be
the best medicine and your best friend, all in one.
Research has shown time and again that pet owners in general have healthier hearts, are sick less often, make fewer visits to the doctor, get more exercise, and are less depressed, said the National Center for Health Research.
“It’s been great, because he will come and we will go into
the rooms and even if the patient is unresponsive, we’ll put his hand on Kota’s
paw and you can just tell, it’s a sense of relaxing,” Candy Hunter, Hospice
House director, told the source. “It’s comforting to the patient and the family
because we have all gotten to know Kota.”
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