Pet Adoption for Seniors

I was reading through the Register this weekend and I am always drawn to the Animal Rescue League page. Pets are popular among people of all ages, but it does seem they hold a special place for older adults. However, it’s not always easy for a senior to adopt a pet without extra help. Let me illustrate with the following story.

When 65-year-old Bob walked into his local humane society he fell in love with a 9-year-old Maltese. Bob was heartsick when he learned that “Buttons” (the dog), who is blind, would be put down if she were not adopted. Bob desperately wanted Buttons—but as an older adult with limited mobility, he felt unable to care for the animal.

So Bob used a resource he relies on for his own care to help him make Buttons a part of his family: the local Home Instead Senior Care franchise. A CAREGiver from this office took Bob to the local pet mart to purchase food and supplies. Now that Buttons is home, the CAREGiver also helps Bob walk the dog and makes sure the animal has an ample supply of food.

Bob’s story reveals both the joys and the heartaches of pet ownership for seniors. On the one hand, many older adults love the companionship of a pet. But the issues of aging can make it difficult for some seniors to do pet-care tasks. Walking a dog, taking an animal to the vet, or purchasing necessary food and supplies are more difficult with arthritis and other changes associated with aging.

Helping seniors with their pets is a valuable service our CAREGivers provide, but one that many people don’t know about. Our CAREGivers fulfill a variety of functions for seniors who have pets. They exercise the animals, help with their nutritional and medical needs, and comfort seniors when their pets die.

The fact that animals are so much a part of seniors’ lives is good news, since research has demonstrated numerous connections between pet ownership and health and well-being. For instance, the Humane Society of the United States has found that having a pet can help lower blood pressure and cholesterol, reduce bone loss, improve circulation and increase levels of exercise.

More importantly for seniors, though, animals can become true friends. Along these lines, The Humane Society also has found that pets can have a positive effect on peoples’ emotional health by helping to decrease owners’ stress levels and feelings of loneliness, while increasing their mental acuity, and enhancing their feelings of well-being and hope.  My own Gram adopted Emily, a four year old cat, and talks to her all day long.  Emily is her constant companion in between visits from the family.

Even if seniors aren’t able to own pets, they can still reap many of these benefits by visiting a pet store or a care community or church that has an animal visitation program.

10 WAYS TO HELP SENIORS ADOPT A PET

If you’re thinking about giving a senior a pet as a gift, consider the following advice from the The Humane Society of the United States and Home Instead Senior Care:

• Don’t surprise seniors with a new pet. The thought of a pet may be overwhelming to an older adult who may not be ready for the job that owning a pet entails.

• Talk with them about the pet that would best suit their lifestyle.

• Identify the time that would be required to care for the pet and determine if the senior has the ability and the economic resources to care for the animal.

• Seek outside resources. Depending on the type of pet you decide on, visit your local animal shelter. They can discuss with you and your senior loved ones the care needs of the type of pet you’re considering. For more information on pet adoption, visit www.humanesociety.org/adopt.

• If looking for a dog or cat, select a more mature animal that is likely to be calmer as well as house trained.

• Make sure the animal is spayed or neutered.

• Consider the size of the pet. If the senior lives in a care community, some facilities have regulations on the weight of a dog or cat.

• Develop a plan for what will happen to the pet if the senior becomes ill or dies. Contact petsinwills@hsus.org for a free planning kit or visit www.humanesociety.org for more information.

• Make friends with your local humane society. Most offer free classes on pet ownership and low-cost medical care. Also, locate a veterinarian that can help you properly care for your pet.

• Seek support if needed to care for the pet. Call Home Instead Senior Care to learn how a CAREGiver can help.

For more information about pet care visit The Humane Society of the United State’s website at www.humanesociety.org. For more information about Home Instead Senior Care, log on to www.homeinstead.com.