More than ‘just’ Personal Alarms, Bora Health’s series on Independent Living advice for Seniors. This week – Pets.
Community interest company, Bora Health, is the exclusive Australian distributer of the SureSafe Personal Alarm.
As part of its continued commitment to elderly Australians in their quest to maintain independent living, Bora Health is launching a series of articles aimed at promoting the health and wellbeing of the baby boomers as they look to make the most of their hard earned retirement years.
This week we talk about the many benefits of having pets in our senior years.
There’s no question that pet adoption can be good for some seniors.
The benefits are well-documented:
- Lower blood pressure
- Reduced cardiovascular disease
- Reduced feelings of stress
- Lower cholesterol levels
- improved overall health means fewer doctor appointments
- Increased sense of responsibility and alertness
- Reduced sense of loneliness
- Increased activity during the day
- Increased fun!
Sounds great, doesn’t it? But before you rush out and buy that dog, cat, or ferret, make sure you are making the right pet adoption decision.
Things to Consider About Pet Adoption for Seniors
- Don’t surprise anyone with pet adoption. Ever. No matter how wonderful the animal is, pet ownership is a big responsibility. The Australian Humane Society encourages people not to purchase pets as a surprise, so discuss pet adoption and pet ownership with the senior before you acquire the animal.
- Let the person choose his or her own pet. You may love Beagles, but your grandmother might want a quieter dog. And while your grandfather says he would love to have a cat, perhaps grooming a long-haired cat isn’t what he had in mind.
Pet adoption is sort of like dating…there has to be some chemistry or it won’t work.
- Consider the senior’s lifestyle. Does the older person enjoy going for walks? If not, then a dog would not be a good choice. This is another reason to discuss pet ownership before going ahead with the pet adoption.
- Consider an older animal. A mature animal is likely to be calmer, which may be a good fit for a senior. Check out your local Humane Society, animal shelter or Purebred Rescue group for wonderful, loving and more mature companions.
- Consider the senior’s health. Having a larger dog requires more physical strength and agility to handle it, so talk about which type and size of pet would result in the most successful pet adoption.
- Who will care for the animal if its owner gets sick? Be prepared for this by making a plan for someone to care for the animal if the owner becomes incapacitated.
- Can the senior afford food and veterinary care? The Australian Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has calculated the following average annual costs of pet adoption, including food, toys, treats, medical care and licensing, if required:
- Fish: $20 (plus a fish bowl or aquarium, which ranges from $20 to $200)
- A small bird: $120
- Cat: $575 (plus the litter box and kitty litter)
- Medium-sized dog: $620
- Rabbit: $691
- Large dog: $780
And don’t forget that additional supplies like dog crates, pet cages, and training can add an additional $75 to $400.
These are average costs for pet adoptions, but pet owners will tell you that the costs can go much higher if there are unexpected medical problems…or if you like to buy exotic toys for your pet. Make sure the new owner can afford to care for the animal, or make additional arrangement to help pay for pet care.
Senior and Pet Adoption: Consider All of the Options
Seniors and pets can make a great combination, but pet adoption brings big responsibilities along with the joy. To find the best fit, make sure you consider all of the options before making a decision about pet adoption.
Who is Bora Health?
Bora Health is an Australian, British and American owned and operated community focused company, providing elderly Australians and their families with access to the information, products and services necessary to support affordable independent living. It is the exclusive authorised distributor of the SureSafe Personal Emergency Call System; a non-monitored personal alarm (otherwise known as an auto-dialer or smart-dialer medical alert), telephone based medical alarm system for Seniors.
Please visit our UK website at www.personalalarms.org and our US website at www.suresafemedicalalerts.com.
Click here to buy a SureSafe Personal Emergency Call System for only $229 (including GST and Express Postage). Peace of mind for you, safety and security for your loved one.
