Pets and the Elderly

Published: Sept. 27, 2020, 1:03 p.m.

We have written and talked before about pets and the elderly client in our office. But most of that discussion has focused on how to make plans for your pets after your inevitable demise. What about taking care of pets -- and having them help take care of you -- as you age? As we explain in this podcast episode, there are all sorts of concerns about pets and the elderly. They range from physical safety (active and inactive pets can be fall risks, for example) to emotional security (the value of pets to institutionalized elders is well documented). In this podcast episode, we talk about not just planning for pets, but also how to deal with pets in your environment as you age. We hope that the suggestions we make will be helpful to seniors -- and to their family members.