Helping paws for aging parents
Having a pet in the house has a number of benefits to our overall physical and emotional health. But I’ve heard many friends and clients question whether it would be better to remove a pet from their aging parents’ homes to prevent injuries or to eliminate the added responsibility of caring for an animal.
Carolyn Rosenblatt of AgingParents.com wrote recently for Forbes about the problems pets can present in the home of an elderly person. If your parent has a large dog or a cat that is old and can’t see or hear a human coming to get out of the way, there is the risk that your parent could trip and fall sustaining serious injuries. And if your parent suffers from dementia, there is concern for the pet that it won’t get fed or taken outside for walks.
But whatever the risks, it is likely they can and should be mitigated to preserve the parent-pet bond.
According to research in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, caring for a pet serves as a buffer against isolation and loneliness. And further studies suggest that petting a dog for a few minutes a day can relieve stress, lower a person’s blood pressure, and alleviate depression. Pets also aid elders in their socialization with others, serving as a conversation starter.
If the pet is unruly, offer to pay for training, Rosenblatt suggests, or shop together for a collar or harness that provides more control. If your parent is frail, find someone to walk to dog to prevent falls or suggest that your parent’s home care worker go along on walks to monitor your parent’s safety.
Whatever the risks, it is probably more beneficial to your parent’s health to protect that owner-pet bond. Safety is a family issue, but don’t forget that Fido or Fluffy is family, too.
James D. Perry
Tags: Anaheim, California, Elder Care, Estate Planning Lawyer, Garden Grove, Nursing Homes, Orange, Orange County, Santa Ana, Tustin
