PETS

By Dr. Marion Somers, Ph. D., Ask Dr. Marion

QUESTION: Hi, Doctor Marion. Do you recommend pets for the elderly? I'm having trouble with my father, who is 84, since he's no longer able to take care of his German shepherd Willy on a daily basis. Lars in Wisconsin, 51

ANSWER: Many elderly have pets they love, and often a pet is their only daily companion. It might even be easier for your father to express affection for a pet than for family members. Pets have been proven to reduce blood pressure and stress, and relieve depression. So feel free to keep healthy pets around, and be sure to put their food and water in a safe place.

Some pets, though, can cause problems. For example, if dogs aren't allowed outside, they'll often urinate and defecate in the home. Elderly have been known to trip and fall over them. If pets are kept, make sure they're being fed, given regular exercise, and are otherwise taken care of. Hire a walker if necessary. If regular feeding and exercise for Willy cannot be achieved, you may need to find a new home for him. But think long and hard before getting rid of Willy. Your father may really need the contact.

There are some pets which are less cumbersome. Your father won't trip over birds or fish, right? There are also services available in some towns where local volunteers will even come in once a week to clean the bird cage or fish tank. How about a turtle in a bowl? That's low maintenance. Having a pet is both an added variable and a mixed blessing for your father, but I do encourage it since being responsible for another living being can bring great rewards, especially for those elderly who live alone. The pet becomes someone to talk to, and a loyal companion who will keep secrets.

Finally, there's no way around the fact that Willy has to be taken care of if your father has to stay in the hospital. This is often where there's no choice but to find the pet a new home. Sometimes, though, a creative deal can be struck. One client of mine started to frequently trip over her adorable cat, but we luckily found a neighbor to take the cat. My client then visited the neighbor to see the cat once a day and it was a great arrangement for everyone involved. Most people understand, since they've had at least one animal that meant a lot to them.