When families come to My Care Finders for assistance in finding the right assisted living facility for their loved ones, they have many questions. One of the frequent concerns that is raised is whether or not their pet will be welcomed at their new home. Animals are a part of our families – but they also represent amazing benefits for seniors who may be coping with change, loss, or loneliness.
The unconditional love, companionship, and joy that pets inspire are irreplaceable, which is why ensuring that their new senior residence allows their cat or dog is essential. Here’s more on how pets make our lives so wonderful.
Animals and the Elderly
There are three significant ways that animals positively benefit a senior adult’s daily life.
- Pet ownership encourages a senior to remain active, as walks, playing, and interacting with the animal are a part of daily life.
- Pet ownership provides a rejuvenated feeling of purpose. Senior adults understand that their pets depend on them, giving them a reason to take of themselves.
- Pets are wonderful companions and can help seniors feel less alone – especially if they are missing their spouse, old friends, or extended family.
Research also proves additional ways that pet ownership benefits older adults.
Reduced heart attack risk: Pet ownership encourages activity and has a significant impact on whether or not heart disease develops as stress level decreases as well.
Boosted social engagement: While taking care of an animal doesn’t seem to influence the rate of cognitive decline, caring for pets helps with the management of dementia symptoms.
Less anxiety and depression: Depression and isolation represent a significant danger to older adults, but the relationship between animals and their owners is known to combat these emotions.
Increased sense of serenity: Petting a cat or dog promotes a feeling of calm and peace and is also known to lower stress levels.
Caring for Pets in Assisted Living
While there are clear benefits to caring for pets, adopting an animal when living in a senior community also represents potential challenges:
- Cost: Keeping pets can be expensive, especially as they age and need veterinary care. Food, medications, and grooming can put a strain on a senior’s finances.
- Responsibility: Senior adults who live in an assisted living residence may be experiencing a partial loss of autonomy or mobility. As they grow older, they may no longer be able to adequately care for their animal. Feeding, walking, and grooming may become more difficult as time goes on. Be sure to inquire if the assisted living facility provides dog walkers, as sometimes these individuals are onsite to assist with animal and pet care.
- Liability: Placing an animal into a community setting when they are not used to it can cause an adverse reaction. In an assisted living residence, your dog, in particular, will encounter other people and other dogs – and there is always the possibility of an animal injuring another resident or pet if they react in fear or stress.
- Potential Misunderstandings: Keeping a pet in a community may result in issues with other residents who don’t like animals, are afraid of dogs – or don’t appreciate the barking next door. If other residents do not have the affinity for animals that you do, it could cause conflicts with other residents.
We understand that senior adults may not want to move to an assisted living facility if they cannot bring their pets along. Therefore if you are a pet owner looking for a new community to call home, be sure to inquire about the pet policies of every potential residence.
My Care Finders is a senior placement agency helping Florida families find the best residence for their loved ones.
