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It can be difficult to see your aging parent struggle with everyday tasks, let alone trying to take care of a pet. Pets provide companionship and can help reduce stress, but they can also be a lot of work. If your aging parent is finding it hard to keep their pets, here are some tips that might help.
Many people are hesitant to adopt pets in their later years because of the burden it may place on them. They worry about how they will care for a pet as they age and what will happen to them if they are no longer able to do so.
How to Help Your Aging Parent Keep Their Pets When They Can’t Take Care of Pets
There are many ways you can help your aging parent keep their pets, and we’ve put together a list of tips for how you can help your aging parent and their pets.
A Few Things to Start With to Take Care of Pets
1. Find out if they have a pet now, or if there is a pet that they would like to adopt in the future. If you are already caring for a pet, then you can skip to the next step. If you are not already caring for a pet, consider adopting one together to make it seem like a shared responsibility.
You need to ask them “How you are going to care for your pet as you age in place?” and have that serious talk.
I know this seems like something everyone should know – but there are people who have to consider out-of-state parents and how they can help them.
2. Consider if your aging parent needs help to keep and care for their pets. Ask yourself if your parent is able to provide food, water, shelter, exercise, and exercise for the pet. If they are not able to do so on their own, then you may need to consider getting a pet that is less work, such as fish or an aquarium.
3. Consider if your parent is able to take care of the medical needs of the pet. An example would be if your parent is not able to get the pet to a vet for check-ups, then you may need to consider an easier pet.
4. Consider how much time your parent has available to care for the pet. An example would be if your parent is not able to spend more than a few hours per day with the pet, then you may need to consider an easier pet.
Their time could be limited by their memory, physical ailments, etc.
The Healing Power Of Pets For Seniors
“The purpose and benefits of pet ownership for seniors are many. Pets provide companionship, socialization with others in the neighborhood, and a sense of responsibility that is lost when children leave home.”
Pets provide companionship and love to seniors. This is very important if the senior is living alone! Pets can help reduce loneliness in seniors. I have seen it time and time again for those that rarely see visitors.
Not only that, but pets can help seniors stay active and connected to the world around them.
Add in the fact that pets can also improve a senior’s physical health by providing exercise and fresh air? It is a win-win for both parties involved.
Balance What Is Best for the Senior and Their Pet
Finding the right balance between what is best for the senior and their pet can be difficult. However, it is important to remember that the senior’s well-being should always come first. If the senior is not able to properly care for their pet, it is important to find them a new home where the pet will be taken care of.
It is important for seniors to find a pet that closely matches their personality and lifestyle, in order to ensure a healthy relationship between the two parties.
6 Signs Your Parent Is Struggling to Care for Their Pet
If you notice your parent struggling to take care of their pet, it’s time to consider what they might need. Your parents may be too busy or lack the physical ability and mental capacity for such a task. You may need to take over pet care duties themselves or help them find other solutions such as hiring someone or taking the animal in yourself.
- The pet is consistently dirty and/or smells bad.
- Your parent does not have the time or energy to take the animal outside frequently, if at all.
- Your parent is struggling to keep up with the animal’s grooming requirements, such as brushing and bathing.
- Your parent has health issues that make it difficult for them to care for the pet.
- Your parent is having trouble paying for medical care and other expenses related to keeping the pet.
- Your parent has lost interest in caring for their pet or seems indifferent to the pet’s wellbeing.
Determine if you can help your parent keep their pet. If they are struggling to care for the animal, but do not want to give it up, there are some things you can do to help.
Talking to Aging Parents About What to do With Their Dog
Talking to aging parents about pets is a difficult conversation. Pets are often the last thing on their minds, and they may not see them as valuable as other things in their life. It’s important to be sensitive when talking about pets and not to force the topic. However, many aging parents are interested in what will happen with their pet when they die or if they become too ill to care for them.
How to Help Your Aging Parent Keep Their Pets
If you know your parent is struggling with the idea of giving up their pet, try talking to them about it in a non-threatening way. For example, you could ask them if they have thought about what will happen to their pet when they pass away or if they become too ill to care for him. If your parent is not ready to talk about it, don’t push the issue. Just let them know you are there for them if they need to discuss anything in the future.
If your parent tells you he or she is struggling to care for their pet, try to help them out by taking over some responsibilities. For example, if your parent has a dog that needs daily walks, ask if you can take the dog for a walk each day. If your parent has a cat that needs to be fed, ask if you can feed the cat every evening while they are at work.
Common Options to Help Seniors with Pet Care
If your aging parent is struggling to care for their pet, there are many options available.
One option is to seek out a decent pet-care service.
Before seeking out professional help, try to assess the situation yourself.
If your parent is having a hard time caring for their pet, but they are not in immediate danger of being injured by their pet, it may be best to let them learn through trial and error.
If you feel your parent is in danger, or if the pet’s behavior has become unmanageable, it may be time to have a professional step in.
Pet-Care Services
Some pet-care services are more common than others, but all of them serve a purpose in keeping pets healthy and happy.
One option is to seek out a pet sitter that specializes in caring for elderly pets and their owners.
Another option is to hire a pet sitter who can come once or twice a week, letting your parent care for their pet in-between visits.
Hiring an animal behaviorist can also be helpful, as they are trained to deal with behavioral issues and will have a better understanding of how your parent’s changing health affects their pet.
Waste Management
Here is an issue we had with my mom’s Alzheimers: she would not understand the dog’s cues to go outside to the bathroom. The dog finally picked a section of carpet to grace with her urine and poo.
We couldn’t be there 24/7 so our favorite solution? DoggieLawn Delivery Service! What is Doggie Lawn Delivery Service? It is a service that delivers grass to your doorstep for your pet. It is basically a Disposable Dog Potty. It is a real grass dog potty that is delivered right to your door!
How Does Doggielawn Work
It is as easy as 1 – 2 – 3
- What size DoggieLawn is right for you? Pick a standard size of the four dog grass potty patches to choose from. Standard, Medium, Large, and XL pet potty grass are the different sizes for options.
- Get FREE shipping on your tray of grass from FedEx – and we all know how much shipping costs have gone up. That means your natural indoor grass for dogs is on your way after you click that button.
- Let it go – or should I say let your pup go? As soon as you open your package and find that perfect spot to put it – that grass for dogs is ready to do its job – helping Fido do HIS job!
How Long Does Doggielawn Last
The answer to this will have a few variables, like what size grass did you get, what size dog do you have and is in a slightly sunny location or not.
If you follow their suggestions and water it a little, your grass for dogs should last 2 to 3 weeks…but a month is really the end of its shelf life. Be careful how much you water it though as most dogs don’t like wet grass!
I can’t tell you enough how this saved the carpet and kept the dog from feeling like a “bad girl” by pooing on the rug. She KNEW she shouldn’t but simply didn’t have an option when mom wouldn’t let her outside.
Grooming
Depending on the breed of dog you have, grooming can be a major task. Long-haired dogs will require more care than short hair breeds. If your elderly parent has arthritis or problems with their back, grooming can be a major challenge.
I would recommend getting the dog used to being brushed and combed when they are young. I also think it will be easier for your parent if they do the grooming themselves.
If you are able to, teach your parent how to properly groom their dog. Incorporating a routine into the day will give them something positive to focus on and help keep their mind active.
It has been proven that oxytocin is given to both the dog and the human in a touching exercise. Grooming is the perfect time to build that connection and get “all the feels”. If your parent isn’t able to do that anymore, there are tons of places you can take a dog to be groomed – even the vet will clip nails and trim facial hair – and for a decent price!
Health & Wellness
Consider if your parent is able to take care of the medical needs of the pet. An example would be if your parent is not able to get the pet to a vet for check-ups, then you may need to consider an easier pet.
An older cat or dog may need medication or special accommodations. If your parent is not able to handle this, you may need to take on that responsibility or their caretaker would have to.
There are also organizations, such as the SPCA, that have programs to help seniors with their pets. They offer things like free transportation to and from vet appointments, as well as discounts on food and supplies.
Home Modifications To Help Elderly Care For Their Pets
A lot of simple things can be done to help your parent care for their pet so they don’t need pet care assistance.
- Install a pet door so the dog or cat can go in and out as they please.
- Consider putting gates on stairways to keep pets away from certain areas.
- Get rid of toxic plants, rugs, and furniture.
- Make sure the pet’s water bowl is easy to reach and fill, or go one step further and get an auto feeder kind that you can fill every few days when you check in – or the caretake can. An auto feeder could be useful also!
- If your parent uses a walker or wheelchair, make sure they have somewhere to rest it when they are sitting down.
- Make sure the pet has a collar with ID tags, and that your parent knows how to use it if the pet gets lost.
If Your Parent Is Moving To An Assisted Living Facility
Surprisingly, I have found that there are several assisted living facility places that allow pets like cats and even dogs!
If you are having your parent move to an assisted living facility, make sure that the place allows pets. If they do allow pets, then ask if there is a pet fee or deposit. It could be anywhere from $25 to $500. Ask if they will help with the care of the pet – making sure it is fed and any litter is kept clean.
If your parent is moving into a nursing home, then there are no pets allowed in most cases. You may want to ask about this before you make a decision.
When Is It Time to Rehome a Senior’s Pet?
Ouch. This is a tough one, especially if they have been together for a bit. Things like a stroke can happen, even a heart attack. Your parent may simply not be able to care for themselves, let alone a fur baby.
You need to make sure you communicate with your parent through this process if it comes to be and remember that any change to your parent and pet’s routine may be stressful.
There are a variety of options for senior citizens to care for their pets, including adopting, temporarily boarding, and surrendering to an animal shelter.
Make sure the organization you choose is reputable and has good standards in place before choosing to adopt or board your pet.
It’s important to find local resources that can help with best practices for rehoming a pet in your area.
Research your options before making a decision.
Avoid Crisis By Planning Ahead
Never let it get to the worst moment possible before you start doing a little research. It is pretty easy to see that a 2-year-old dog might outlive an 87-year-old mom. While the few years together are wonderful, what would be the plans for the future?
A little research and planning can go a long way in helping an aging parent keep their pets.
Frequently Asked Questions regarding How to Help Your Aging Parent Keep Their Pets
How often should a 71-year-old get a puppy?
It is best to avoid getting a puppy at this age.
What are some low-maintenance pets for seniors?
Some low-maintenance pets for seniors include: fish, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and small mammals.
Is a cat better for seniors than a dog?
There is no definitive answer, as it depends on the individual pet and senior citizen. Some cats may be better for seniors than dogs, and vice versa. It is important to do research on both cat and dog breeds to find the best fit for your parent.
What if my parent doesn’t want to get rid of their pet?
If your parent does not want to get rid of their pet, try to find ways to make it easier for them to care for the animal. Ultimately, it is important to respect your parent’s wishes and make sure their pet is well taken care of. If it comes down to the animal in question not being safe? You simply have to step in.
I know. It is difficult.
