Easy pet care for Seniors. How to help your aging loved one care for pets. Many seniors enjoy the joyful companionship of a pet. And, there are great health benefits to pet ownership. But as a person ages they may have more difficulty caring for a pet. You might consider getting a window bird feeder for enjoyment. Keep reading to learn how to help your aging loved one care for their pets so it won’t take a toll on their well being.
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There are studies that show many physical health benefits of having a pet. For example, seniors may enjoy more physical activity such as with dog walking. Therefore, pet owners tend to have lower blood pressure and healthier cholesterol levels, reducing their risk for heart disease drastically. Another medical benefit can be a stronger immune system from being exposed to fur and dandruff.
There are also mental health benefits. As an example, per owners tend to experience less depression. Having a pet will provide a sense of responsibility and routine. Simply having to give a cat some water or take a dog outside can fill a senior’s life and help them feel useful. In addition pets can provide seniors with a sense of security.
But there are also concerns in regards to elderly caring for pets. Many pets have aged with their owners and are also seniors themselves. For example, they may have health problems or issues with mobility.
There are many ways to make caring for a pet easier for seniors! Here are a few tips:
- Choose the right pet. A cat might be less maintenance than a dog. But either might be too much work for your senior loved one. Instead, perhaps a bird or fish, even a guinea pig would make a better companion.
- Get pet Supplies automatically delivered to the home through an online service such as Pet Pro Supply Company.
- Use products that make pet care easier. Products such as automatic water and food bowls reduce the frequency of need to bend down to refill the bowls. There are also self cleaning litter boxes for cats.
- Find a vet that does house calls. Some veterinarian offices have mobile pet clinics that will travel to personal homes to provide veterinary care. This can be much easier for a senior than taking their pet out to the clinic. There are also mobile groomers that make house calls too.
- Make sure the pet is spayed/neutered. Avoid having a little of pups or kittens for your loved one to manage by ensuring their pet is spayed or neutered.
- Set up a dog walker. If you can’t take your dog for a walk there are companies you can hire to do it for them.
- Consider adopting a senior pet rather than a puppy/kitten. A younger pet may have too much energy for your loved one to keep up with. There are some local programs that match senior pets with senior owners and usually offer reduced adoption fees.
- Utilize local resources to support your loved one in their pet care. For example, if your loved one is struggling financially to take care of their pet, there are charities such as Humane Society programs can help to pay for services like grooming, dental care, and temporary boarding. The is also a grant program through Meals on Wheels, that helps home bound senior citizens by delivering pet supplies to their home.
What if your loved one can’t handle a pet? Perhaps try a therapy pet or pet visits or use a window bird feeder for up close and personal exposure without the responsibility.
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