May is National Pet Month and it’s a wonderful time for seniors who want pets but can’t have them to learn how they can still get all the benefits of being around a pet. There are lots of seniors who would love to have a pet but aren’t sure they want the responsibility of a full-time pet. And there are other seniors who would enjoy having a pet but have medical conditions that make it difficult for them to care for a pet all the time. But those seniors can still spend time with dogs, cats, and other pets so they can get enjoy all the snuggles, purrs, and health benefits of spending time with pets. Their home care aides can help in pursuing this desire.
Seniors who can’t take on a pet but still enjoy them can try these part-time pet options:
Cat Cafes
Cat cafes are opening all over the country and they are the ideal spot for pet-loving seniors to hang out. Seniors can spend hours at a café talking with other people and socializing while they pet cats. It’s a fantastic reason for seniors to get out of the house and it provides both socialization with other people and the chance to spend some time with cats. Seniors can take a book, read the newspaper, or just hang out and play with the cats. Look to see if there is a cat cafe in your senior parent’s area- there probably is. If your senior parent has home care they can go with them to the café as a fun outing.
Volunteer With An Animal Shelter
Animal shelters and rescues always need volunteers and seniors have lots of time so seniors volunteering at animal shelters is a great match. And it’s ok if your senior parent can’t do any heavy lifting or do tasks like cleaning litter boxes or cleaning up kennels. Animal shelters also need people to take shelter dogs for walks, play with the cats, and snuggle the kittens and puppies. More socialization and time spent with people makes it easier for the animals to find forever homes because it makes them more comfortable around people and in a family setting.
Pet Sit or do Doggie Daycare
Seniors are fantastic pet sitters, and they can even earn a little extra money for pet sitting if they want to. When people in the neighborhood go out of town seniors can stay with their pets or visit their pets during the day and feed them so that their pets are taken care of. Many pets don’t do well in kennels or boarding situations and much prefer to be in their own homes. Seniors are great pet sitters because they can provide companionship for pets as much as the pets provide companionship for seniors.
Seniors can also be part-time petsitters and do some doggie daycare for their neighbors or children. Doggie daycare just means having the dog stay with them during the day while their owners are at work so the dogs don’t get anxious or lonely. Seniors get to enjoy a few hours each day with dogs they already know and the dogs get to spend the day getting all the attention they win. That’s a win for everyone.