Pets are Family…Plan For Them!
During the pandemic, my husband and I adopted a cat. Her name is Clementine (that’s our picture on the right!) and she is a very sweet addition to our household. Coincidentally, our newly widowed cousin told us she is thinking about getting a cat for companionship. She is in her 80s and very lonely after the death of her husband of over 60 years. This got me thinking about whether or not it is a good idea for seniors to adopt pets.
The benefits of sharing your home with a pet are well researched and well documented. Pet care is correlated with higher levels of activity (dogs must be walked, of course!), lower rates of depression and anxiety, fewer heart attacks, lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol and just feeling better overall. Many people who live alone (without other humans) and with a pet say that the fact that their pet needs them gives them purpose and gets them up in the morning.
Our cousin lives in her own home and makes all the rules herself. But what if her health declines and she needs to move to assisted living? There, the facility would make the rules for her and for her cat. Even if she follows all the rules, there may be challenges such as:
Costs– The facility may charge a pet fee. If a senior is in danger of running out of money, they may have to choose between using funds for their care or for their pet.
Living communally – If the pet was used to living in a single family home, they may not adjust well to living in close proximity to other humans and animals. They may hurt someone or damage someone’s property, or be a nuisance (excessive meowing or barking) which may lead to conflicts and additional costs. The pet may be miserable in the assisted living facility and lead to significant stress on the pet parent.
Decline in health and mobility – People usually move to assisted living because they are having trouble with one or more of the activities of daily living. When their health declines further, someone will need to care for the pet. Assisted living staff are not likely to be allowed to include pet care in their duties and if a family member does not want to show up every day to take care of the pet, they may have to hire a pet sitter to help, leading to additional costs.
These challenges may not be deal breakers, and many people may be able to successfully live with their pet in assisted living. However, regardless of the situation, it is best for pet owners to have a succession plan for their pets.
This month, our Whole Life List topic is “You, Your Family, Friends and Pets.” We include pets because they are members of the family and planning for their care is important to minimize stress and to avoid heartbreaking outcomes such as a decline in the pet’s health, the pet’s death, or having to give him or her away.
When you make your plan for your pet, first document how you currently care for him or her. Items to write down include:
Name, Breed, Age
Color/Markings
Feeding/Medication instructions
Exercise Schedule
Doggy day care or pet sitter name and contact information
Veterinarian name and contact information
Personality, Likes/Dislikes
Other details about the pet and his/her care
Then add a few sentences about what should happen to the pet if you can’t care for him or her (temporarily and permanently). Do not skip this part. This is the time to be clear-eyed and practical. Your pet will do best if s/he is cared for by someone who expected to care for him and is prepared mentally and financially to do so.
In terms of financial support for the care of your pet, many people include them in their estate plans and create pet powers of attorney and pet trusts. You can read more about financial and legal planning for the care of pets here. If you have a pet power of attorney and/or a pet trust, make sure you note that on your Whole Life List in the pet care section.
I have already added Clementine to my Whole Life List. If you have a pet, I invite you to do the same. Our 2021 Whole Life List Challenge has just started. Sign up here and we will send you a checklist every month for a year with tips for what information to collect on your Whole Life List. You and your pet will be glad you did it.