Seniors and pets – a great relationship

Many of us have known that special bond that exists between pets and their owners. One has only to watch Saturday morning television programming of pet “parents” and their beloved pets to observe those heartfelt bonds and the love that their animals return to their owners. Loneliness has been named as one of the major contributing factors to elderly “failure to thrive” and depression. Studies are now showing the health and emotional benefits of those special relationships between pets and their owners.

Some senior residences are encouraging Seniors to bring their pets and, certain of these are offering pet caretaking services such as dog walking and litter box removal. Years ago, when my grandmother was forced to move to an assisted living facility, she had to relinquish her beloved cat to a relative. The cat received excellent care and was allowed to visit occasionally. However, the daily loneliness of sitting in her new home without the comfort of her cat resting on her lap, or the entertainment of watching him play, must have felt, at times, excruciating and may have contributed to her “acting out” episodes of the dementia.

If your loved one has a special bond with a pet, you may want to add the ability to bring that pet to your list of requirements when looking for a Senior care residence. Obviously, some pets such as my grandmother’s elderly lap-loving cat would be easier to manage than a hyper younger dog who barks and wants lots of exercise. Although, if your Senior likes to walk and the dog is well mannered, this need for exercise may be more helpful than the treadmill in the exercise room. Some assisted living and memory care residences have resident pets such as rabbits and dogs which belong to the assisted living residence, but which visit and interact with the Seniors in their apartments and in the common areas. This situation may be a perfect fit for your Senior.

Whatever you, your Senior, and your family decide is the best move, it is important to remember, and attend to, the emotional needs of your Senior, recognizing their relationship with their constant companion. If it is not possible to bring their pet with them, understand that the grief of the loss of their close, daily companion may be a contributing factor to any depression or difficulty in adjusting to their new surroundings. Mention this to the staff as they work with your Senior through this adjustment period. The staff may have solutions that you may not have considered. Their goal is to enrich the experience of your Senior, both during the initial move, and continuing as your Senior begins to feel comfortable in their new home.