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Anyone who has a beloved pet would agree that these creatures add a great deal of love to our lives. This is particularly true for elders, many of whom live alone, and need the companionship their pet very much. Sometimes the aging pet and its aging owner face particular risks. They're both getting old at the same time. For this piece I'll focus on dogs, as I'm a dog lover over my lifetime.
Why We Value Our Doggies
Dogs live long in many cases, giving unconditional love to their owners. It's been my unproven belief that they communicate with us in what can be called a telepathic way. How does that doggie know when you're sick and it won't leave your side? How does it know when you're sad about something and it seems to look at you as if it understands? We get attached. The dog or dogs are part of the family, always happy to see you and loving the things that make both owner and pet enjoy one another. My 15 year old pooch is Rosie. So what the problem with getting old?
Safety Risks
Balance
As people age, balance can become a problem. Research tells us that one in four people over age 65 fall every year. Many of those seniors who do fall injure themselves in such as way that they never regain the full mobility they had before the fall. If your loved one (or you) have balance issues or a prior fall, it's time to look closely at your safety around your pet. If the dog is underfoot a lot (mine is!) we have to increase our vigilance as we move around. It would be a sad day to trip over your pet and end up with a broken hip. These things do happen! I am developing the habit of looking for my dog, Rosie, especially when I'm in the kitchen, as I turn and move a lot preparing meals. She likes to park herself wherever I am and follows me around. Now I watch out a lot more: where's Rosie?
Vision
Dogs lose vision with aging too. That can add to the risk that we can trip over them. It can also put them at risk of not seeing something harmful so as to avoid it. It boils down, once again, to keeping a more vigilant watch over the pet, so your loved one, or you, and the dog remain safe. They get older, we watch over them more. Their sense of smell is amazing, but it is not complete protection from every danger we see with our eyes.
Hearing
It's come to my attention that Rosie is starting to show a hearing loss. She will come when called if I see her start to get too far away as I go out to get the mail, a time she likes to explore the front yard. But I have to be loud. She is okay when by my side and she still follows commands like "sit" but at something over age 15 years, she's an old girl and I know she's declining. I repeat the calling or command as needed. She does get it eventually.
Care for pets by seniors with memory loss
As a consultant in the aging field, I frequently deal with clients whose aging parents have memory loss and/or dementia. Those cognitively impaired seniors may be losing the capacity to safely care for their pets. Forgetting to feed and water them, get them the activity the pet needs and not remembering to take the dog to the vet when necessary are all risks. Yes, the Mom, Dad, or other who love that dog should not be separated from them but it's time for someone else to ensure that the pooch is properly cared for.
Oversight
If an aging loved one is slipping cognitively and they have a pet, it's time for family, friends or those in their loved ones' community to create a plan. Discuss it with anyone willing to help. Create a weekly calendar. If family is at a distance, and no one else is available, it's time to hire a dog walker or other. Depending on how impaired the elder is, one must schedule either regular reminder calls or in-person visits to attend to all basic pet needs including pet medications. We do not want these vulnerable creatures to be neglected any more than we would want their aging owners to be.
The Takeaways
- Older pets have increased care needs just as older people do.
- Don't overlook the risks to pets as their owners age and may be less able to care for them. Safey is paramount
- When an elder has memory problems or dementia, others definitely need to step in to help care for pets and attend to their needs too.
Related: The Sandwich Generation Is Exhausted: A Realistic Approach to Self-Care That Fits Your Life