Being able to continue living with your pets is a beneficial and enjoyable experience for everyone.
With live-in care. Your loved one can receive the support they need which will enable them to keep living with their pets, even a new pet.
Why pets can be so beneficial to older people
Pets provide companionship, mental stimulation, exercise, a sense of daily order and moments of affection, all of which take on increasing importance as people age.
Whether getting out and walking the dog, or reading on the sofa while stroking the cat, pets can be the source of treasured domestic moments.
Pets have a positive effect on older people’s health and wellbeing in many ways:
- Lowering blood pressure
- Reducing loneliness by providing companionship
- Add meaning and purpose to daily life
- Increasing attentiveness to self-care and nutritional needs
- Stave off depression
- Minimizing Doctor visits for minor conditions
- Reducing stress
- Reducing aggression and anxiety in people with Dementia
There might well come a time when your loved one is no longer able to care for their pet. This could be due to a deterioration in their overall condition, or as the result of a move into residential care.
In such circumstances, your loved one would be faced with a difficult decision that could have a significant emotional impact.
Live-in care can help avoid this possibility by supporting your loved one in their own home. The care team can complete any pet-care tasks your loved one is finding difficult, and take on responsibility for actions they’re no longer able to carry out.
The live-in care team can carry out the following tasks for pets:
- Taking them for walks and visits to vets
- Grooming and washing
- Buying food and other pet products
- Monitoring their safety and health
- Cleaning up after them
- Ensuring they are looked after with regular food and water
With pets providing a host of benefits in terms of physical and emotional health, it is worth considering every option to ensure your loved one can remain with their companion.
Unlike many other forms of care, live-in care recognises these positive effects and ensures the best possible care standards for both your loved one and their pet.