Weighing the Pros and Cons of Pet Ownership for Your Senior Loved One

Elder Care in Wake Forest, NC – Pets can Make Wonderful Senior Companions, but they also come with Great Responsibility

There has been a considerable amount of research conducted through the years about the benefits that pets can offer people. When you’re talking about somebody who may require elder care, a cat or a small dog could be highly beneficial to their health and, emotional well-being.

For someone who requires elder care at this point in time, talking about pet ownership might be a good thing to do, but it is important to temper that with the needs of the animal. Every animal has certain basic requirements that need to be met, just as a person does.

Dogs for example, need to go out for walks on a regular basis. Taking a dog for a walk might not seem like a major problem, but even if your loved one has an in-home care provider, it may not be within their scope of service to assist with pet care. If your loved one is not capable of taking the pet for a walk, it can lead to certain problems over time.

It is also important to note that, most of the time, people are required to have a leash on their dog. This is not only for their safety but for the safety of everybody else as well. When you’re talking about a small to medium size dog, they might not be a real threat to other people or animals, but they still need to be leashed.

In many communities throughout the country there are dog parks where the animal can be let off the leash to run around to its heart’s content. If there is such a place in your neighborhood, this could be a good activity to do with your elderly loved one if they choose to have a dog.

Bringing the dog to this place, especially during a time of day when there are a few other larger dogs around, can help it get the exercise it needs. It can also provide a great opportunity for the elderly individual to get out, and enjoy some fresh air.

The articles posted on this blog are provided for general information and discussion purposes only.  These articles are not intended to suggest anything with respect to the operations or services of this office.