One thing we need to face with live-in care is that it can be very lonely. This is true not only for the carer but also for the client, who over the years may have lost a spouse, friends and even neighbours.
Additionally, getting older and having mobility issues may mean that they get out less, meet fewer people and stop doing things they used to enjoy.
Having a pet may be one of the things that actually keeps our client going, being a source of companionship and comfort to an older client.
It has been shown that having a pet helps to reduce stress and lower blood pressure. Also, having a pet can help increase social interaction and provide exercise. Pets can greatly help towards lessening depression and any feelings of loneliness.
One distinct advantage of having a pet is that your client may never feel completely alone, so while you are in another room doing laundry or making a meal, your client may be content to sit with her doggie or pussycat.
Yes, unfortunately there are several reasons why an older client may or should not have a pet.
Who will walk the dog, feed the animal, take it to the vet, clean its ears, trim the nails, groom it and keep it safe? While it is a great thought that your client has a pet, you should be realistic about how much work it involves for you as a carer.
Everyone knows that live-in care can be lots of hard work with often very little down time. Sometimes even our breaks can be interrupted and shortened by our client’s needs. Adding a pet into this already busy equation may simply be too much.
Taking care of a pet is great when things are all going well, but will your client be able to afford vet bills if the pet gets ill, or when it needs annual vaccinations?
Will your client be able to afford pet food rather than feeding the animal from the table?
These are very valid questions to ask and should be addressed even before looking for a pet.
While puppies and kittens are adorable, they are a lot of work for many hours of the day, they may need to be fed more than once a day and bathed more often if they get dirty. Additionally, a young animal is very boisterous and can easily knock an older person down if they bump into them.
What’s more, puppies grow up and can be boisterous for several years, some needing three walks a day.
If your client lives in a place where space is limited then a pup that grows large will soon become a nuisance when it is confined.
If your client has a routine which they will not change then perhaps a pet is not the right thing for them.
Pets demand attention whenever they feel like it and not when we are ready to give it. They have their own routine and may change the entire schedule of your client overnight with their needs.
A client who is inflexible in their routine may not appreciate a pet disrupting things.
Some breeds, like Jack Russel Terriers may look small, but they are high maintenance when it comes to energy. They need a great deal of commitment and effort from the owner to keep them from becoming disruptive.
Other breeds may shed hair profusely and you may find that you are constantly cleaning up doggie hair.
Clients who live in apartments may only be permitted to have animals such as cats which do not make too much noise.
A dog or cat can live any length of time from very young to up to twenty years of age, and often the pet will outlive a client, particularly if they have acquired it when they are older.
It is essential, if your client wants a pet, that there is a plan in place for taking care of the pet should your client pass away first.
While it is a great thought that a family will automatically adopt mum’s old cat or dog, this may not be written in stone. Families have their own commitments and may have pets of their own. Adding to this may be unacceptable.
Without a written plan in place, the once beloved pet could end up in a shelter home, or simply be put to sleep because no one will take care of them.
Christmas, as we know, is the most popular time for people to acquire pets, although often this is not the right thing to do.
If your client is planning a pet, then make sure you, your client, and the family are all fully aware of the implications.
Additionally, you need to be very sure who takes care of the animal so that it does not inadvertently land on your own shoulders, and add to an already busy day.
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