By Susanna P. Barton
Make no bones about it, pets make us happier, healthier humans – throughout life and especially during our second half. A recent report from the American Psychiatric Association shows 86% of participants believe pets have a mostly positive impact on their mental health. A 2019 study suggests people with pets are able to meet higher physical activity guidelines throughout life and the American Heart Association says pets can make our ticker muscles stronger. Pets may even improve cognitive decline in older adults, keeping us sharper as we age, according to a report published in Psychology Today.
While pets and older adults are, by most accounts, the perfect pairing, there are still important factors to consider before leashing up furry friends for the sunset stroll. Pets can complicate care management, disrupt the lives of loved ones, and cause major stress, destruction, and expense if we don’t take into account the many nuances and potential outcomes ahead of time. Without frank communication and planning, pets can be just as unhealthy for the senior experience as they are beneficial.
Let’s dig into some of those points now and consider ways we can make senior pet acquisitions carefully during the Golden Years.
Advanced Nursing and Home Care’s blog outlines the many positives, or pros, of pet companionship, including daily exercise, healthy social interaction, and stress reduction. But it also offers a short list of cons: “There are some challenges that should be considered before adopting a pet. First, seniors are at a higher risk of developing health issues, which can make it more challenging to complete the tasks required to take care of a pet. Second, seniors need to have a support system in place to take care of their pets in case they suddenly need to leave home for travel or an emergency. Finally, while some pet costs are predictable, others are not. Unexpected veterinary bills or animal medical conditions can add a new element of financial stress for seniors and their families.”
An article in MoneyGeek listed additional sobering realities of pet ownership for seniors including:
I experienced some of these challenges while managing an older couple’s caregiving several years ago. They were animal lovers of the highest order and lived in a pool home with a huge, unwieldy rescue dog. When their health and mobility failed them, the dog became a major line item on the fix-it list. Though the couple had made arrangements to move into a care facility nearby – a residential situation that suited their needs and budget perfectly – they backpedaled and reneged on the deal because the dog was not welcome to live there. When in-home care then became their only, and most expensive, option, the dog continued to be a sticking point. He jumped up on the medical bed and caused injuries. Some caregivers didn’t like dogs or were allergic to them and thus were ineligible as caregivers in that environment – making scheduling trickier and often impossible. The dog needed to be walked, and no one was there to do it. The dog needed food, but they were unable to drive to the store. Vet visits, bills, and procedures were considered luxuries they could not afford. The dog suffered, the couple suffered, and the caregivers suffered. It was a tragic and heartbreaking situation that could have been avoided with some honest conversations and realistic long-term planning.
Another friend recalled how her father-in-law adopted a puppy in his 80s despite everyone telling him what a bad idea that was given his situation. When reality hit, and he had to leave the house for a bit, he tied the dog up in the front yard – until some kind neighbor stepped in to assist. Another Grand Plans friend was lamenting the decision by her infirm parents to home a new dog and how seemingly short-sighted that choice had been. Pets can be a real anchor point! And they can live a long, long time. Of course, we all see those stories on the news, too – those recurring nightmare stories about elderly, bighearted hoarders who leave behind a house full of pets – creatures that someone else must then be called upon to manage.
These dog-gone scenarios are by no means an anomaly. A 2022 study published by the National Library of Medicine called “Pet ownership issues encountered by geriatric professionals,” says almost 80 percent of geriatric care workers surveyed encountered issues related to pet ownership in their clients’ homes. “The professionals reported older adults most often raised getting pet items into the home and concerns about their pets’ health. The issues most often raised by people living with dementia to the professionals were planning for the pet due to a housing transition and basic pet care. Care partners focused on basic pet care and planning for the pet due to a housing transition. The professionals themselves most often raised the issues of basic pet care, concerns about falling, and the pets’ behavior,” according to the study.
Before considering the acquisition of a pet, Advanced Nursing & Homecare suggests putting pen to paper on the potential concerns and challenges. Raising and researching points like “What are the best pets for seniors?” “Can I afford a pet?” and “Do they have a plan and support system?” are great starter questions, according to the article. When reflecting on potential costs, visit a vet to discuss the kinds of expenses on the horizon. And if it’s affordable, connecting with a mobile vet may pay dividends later in convenience when mobility decreases. Researching pet types, needs, costs, and contingencies is a great place to begin the conversation.
The MoneyGeek article suggested several money-saving factors to consider before inviting a pet into your life – and life expense column! – that are worthy of discussion including taking advantage of pet food assistance, using senior discounts, looking for low-cost clinics, spaying or neutering the pet, and buying pet insurance. The truth is, pets are expensive! And so is senior living! These considerations should be part of any discussions prior to making pet ownership official.
While weighing the options, another smart play is working with senior pets or specific breed rescue organizations. Senior pets are a great thought because they need the companionship as much as senior humans – and they aren’t going to be as much of a long-term investment as a puppy or younger animal might be. Some breed rescue groups also offer adopters the option of returning the animal if they aren’t a fit for whatever reason. That is a wonderful assurance.
Most importantly, the conversation should include members of your care team and loved ones who will be part of your support network as you age. It is critical to engage in realistic dialogue about what will happen to the pet if you are no longer able to care for it, who will make decisions, where the pet will live and with whom, and most importantly how your loved ones will pay for it all. Once expectations are aligned and everyone is aware of their potential role and capacity to fulfill it, pet acquisition becomes a much more enjoyable experience – in addition to being good for our health!
Through conversations with Grand Plans: The Workshop participants, we laughed that unless our pets are feral or well into their ninth life (or last of four legs), we shouldn’t jump into pet ownership without making it clear to ourselves and everyone around us what will happen to our pets when we’ve crossed our own rainbow bridge. Planning is essential. Not many folks would choose to have a baby at age 75 without going down all the obvious rabbit holes first – who will care for the baby and get them to school if I pass? Who will support that baby, how, and with what? Where will they live if I have a health crisis or can’t live at home anymore? If you want to have a baby at age 75, you’d pull your support system in for a family meeting and talk about it. You’d set up details and financial arrangements. You’d make sure you had a plan and could afford it and everyone involved would be very clear about any role they might be expected to play.
It’s the same deal with a late-in-life pet acquisition. Study after study shows how enriching and emotionally stabilizing a pet can be for adults in their second half. Our lives can actually be lengthened by their presence. Animals are a healing presence. But pets are an expensive, unpredictable, and messy long-term commitment. Deciding to have one requires authentic conversation with our loved ones, a realistic vision of the future, and a willingness to hear the concerns of the people who will support us in the second half.
Susanna Barton, a member of Jacksonville Mayor Donna Degan’s subcommittee on elder care, has worked as a professional writer in Jacksonville for nearly 30 years and is the founder of the Grand Plans online community, podcast, newsletter, and blog. Her book Grand Plans: How to Mitigate Geri-Drama in 20 Easy Steps and its accompanying workbook, the Grand Planner, are available in local stores and on Amazon. For more information, http://www.mygrandplans.com.
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