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| NEW YORK, NY - MAY 09: Tomo McLoyd holds the paw of her dog Rocky, 14, as veterinarian Wendy McCulloch euthanizes the pet at their apartment on May 9, 2012 in New York City. McLoyd had made the difficult decision to call McCulloch to perform the procedure after the pet could no longer walk. End of life issues have become increasingly important for pet owners, as advanced medical treatments and improved nutrition are extending pets lives well into old age. McCulloch runs Pet Requiem, a home veterinary service designed to provide geriatric care and in-home euthanasia for dying pets in the New York and New Jersey area. Many pet owners are choosing such in-home care to try and provide a humane and compassionate 'good death' for their beloved pets. (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife) |
Are you or an elderly parent preparing to move to a senior
facility like an assisted living or nursing home? It can be very unsettling to leave familiar
surroundings and even family but the shock can be greater if you or your
elderly parent must leave a trusted and beloved pet behind! The term “pet” doesn’t even begin to describe
how most of us feel about our pets. To a
true pet owner, they are a member of our family, a confidant, a loved one and
leaving them can be devastating!
Don’t despair! More and more senior facilities are accepting
pets as they know that pets are more than a companion, they can be great
therapy for seniors. Here are some of the benefits of having a pet during the transition and after.
Pets help with transition:
- Pets help maintain the link to former lifestyle and residence
- Pets help the new resident feel more settled and secure
- Pets provide a sense of independence
- Pets can help adjust to new routines by becoming part of them
- Pets can help make a new environment feel like home
- They can help with loneliness and provide needed companionship
- Pets can encourage independence of their owner to continue caring for them
- Pets can provide an opportunity for social interaction with others
- Pets bring continuity to daily routines which may be new and different
- Pets are often credited for reducing stress and even depression
There are numerous studies that support pets in senior
facilities and for seniors in general.
The potential benefits have created a whole new field of therapy for
seniors known as Pet Therapy. For
seniors without pets, specialists are often invited to visit senior facilities
and bring specially trained animals to visit and interact with the
residents. And it’s not just dogs! Pet therapy can include dogs, cats, rabbits
and guinea pigs. These animals, along
with fish and birds, are also accepted as pets for residents in pet-friendly
facilities.
But be prepared! Many
facilities have rules and guidelines you must meet before your pet is as
welcome as you or your elderly parent.
Here are some of the common requirements and not all of these may be
required by the facility you choose:
Common pet
requirements:
- The resident must be able to care for the pet on their own including walking, feeding and cleaning
- There are size limits on pets as well as quantity limits
- The pet must get along well with others
- The pet must not become disruptive or disturbing to other residents
- The resident must take financial responsibility for the pet’s food, medical care and general needs
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| Pets at Home (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Don’t leave your beloved pet behind when it’s time to
move! The promise of taking a pet to a
new environment can be very comforting and make transition a bit easier. Be sure to do your research to make sure the
facility you choose for yourself or your aging parent accepts pets. To obtain a list
of facilities in your area
that meet your needs please consider www.seniorfacilityfinder.com .
If you would like to contribute your thoughts and ideas,
please leave them in our comment section. We want to hear them. Helping people
care for their loved ones is what we care about.
We look forward to reading yours.
Bob Gregory is an advocate for Seniors
and is one of the founders of www.seniorfacilityfinder.com. At
SeniorFacilityFinder.com, we are dedicated to helping families get the Elder
Care help they need without having to provide their personal information! If
you find you need an assisted
living facility or
other type of senior facility, please consider www.seniorfacilityfinder.com.
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