Best Pets for Seniors - Part 2 - Tips, Alternatives, & Helpful Programs

By Anna Hazard

View the Rest of the Series

Part 1 - Benefits & Drawbacks
Part 2 - Tips, Alternatives, & Helpful Programs
Part 3 - Best Dogs for Seniors
Part 4 - Best Cats for Seniors
Part 5 - Best Birds for Seniors
Part 6 - Best Rodents for Seniors
Part 7 - Aquariums & Aquarium Plants
Part 8 - Best Aquarium Fish for Seniors

Tips for Choosing the Right Pet for a Senior

Some further things to keep in mind when it comes to choosing the right pet for a senior include...

Temperament

• A pet's temperament must be suitable to the abilities of their specific owner. Generally pets with more calm & easy-going personalities are best for seniors, especially for those with mobility problems. Some potential pets may be inappropriate due to incompatible energy levels (high energy pet for a low energy owner), rambunctiousness, or aggressive temperaments.
• Households that will be visited by grandkids & children should also look into child friendly pets that will endure a bit of rough handling.
• In general, older more mature pets tend to have more level & low-key temperaments compared to their younger counterparts. An older pet will also have time to develop & display their full personality when it comes to comparing temperaments.

---

Maintenance

• While all pets will bring with them some level of maintenance & caretaking responsibilities, generally high maintenance pets should be avoided for potential senior owners.
• Unless a family member or other caregiver can step in when it comes to taking care of a pet, a senior's physical limitations must be taken into mind. That includes their ability to stoop when it comes to cleaning a litter boxes or other messes a pet may leave behind as well as providing food & water bowls on the floor. Hand strength & dexterity must also be taken into account when it comes to grooming a pet, cleaning a cage or tank, and providing necessary medicine. Seniors must also have a good enough memory to properly feed & give medications on time to any prospective pets.
• Some pets may require access to transportation, such as those that require vets & groomers. For normal maintenance & health checks, check to see if there is a nearby  vet or groomer that makes house calls.
• A dog owner must have enough mobility to be to be able to take them on walks for exercise & bathroom breaks or have access to a fenced in lawn or dogwalker.
• Pets with easier to take care of fur or those that otherwise do not require grooming are recommended for those with limited hand mobility.
• In general, smaller pets will be easier to maintain & accommodate in a wider variety of home settings with some pets being inappropriate due to their size (ie size limitations of an apartment).
• Mature pets tend to require less maintenance than young pets (which require more attention & training) or geriatric pets (that will require more care & accommodation)
• Besides having a family, friend, or paid caregiver that will help take care of a senior's pet, some programs such as Pets for Seniors or Let's Join Paws can help with the maintenance of pets.

---

Costs

• Besides the initial price of acquiring a pet, the ongoing cost in both money & time for its upkeep should be kept in mind. Certain types of pets will be more expensive to maintain, requiring more expensive food (ie yearly cost of bags of dog food vs a can of fish food), more supplies (such as kitty litter), or outside visits such as to the vet or groomer.
• Geriatic pets or those with already present health conditions will also require more funds for their medical needs as well as more proper attention.
• Otherwise, having smaller animals tends to help defray the cost of upkeep & are otherwise easier to handle.

---

Availability

• The availability of a senior at home should also be kept in mind when it comes to owning pets. Seniors that are often out traveling or have extended visits to rehab centers or hospitals may wish to forgo owning pets if they don't have someone who can step in and take care of them in the owner's absence. Otherwise pets that require less maintenance & the presence of the owner may be adopted instead (such as fish which can be fed using automatic fish feeders)
• Other options for pets whose owner's have been hospitalized or are otherwise unavailable include such programs as PACT and Meals on Wheels Pet Support.

---

Health

• The health of both the prospective pet & its owner should also be kept in mind. Greater resources are required for owning a pet with an already present medical condition in time, cost, and physical capability for taking care of them.
• Health conditions within the owner may also curb the ability to maintain certain pets, such as allergies (especially to dander or feathers) & lung conditions which must be taken into account for everyone in the household. Seniors with compromised immune systems must be especially careful regarding the types of pets that they can adopt.
• Seniors that are at high risk for falling due to mobility or balance problems should avoid dogs, cats, and other pets that may be underfoot that greatly increase the chance of tripping.
• While any pet will also require having a succession plan for who will take over if something should happen to their owner, the longevity of the pet in contrast to their senior should also be kept in mind. Really long lived pets may outlast their seniors by decades which may not be a commitment that friends & family can carry out. Conversely short lived pets may end up depressing their owners with their quick life & death cycle.

Senior Pet Programs

​These programs are focused on finding appropriate pets for the elderly and often provide adoption discounts, basic supplies, or offer after-adoption care such as grooming or boarding during an owner's hospitalization or sick leave. Many local shelters also have a senior friendly adoption programs available.

Pets for the Elderly
Pets for Seniors
PAWS
Animal League - Seniors for Seniors
2nd Chance 4 Pets - Companions for Seniors
​Pet Peace of Mind

Other Alternatives to Owning a Pet

Here are a selection of other alternatives for pet therapy & other animal interaction for those seniors whose circumstances don't allow them to own pets themselves.

Visiting Pets
 
There are a variety of programs that provide visiting therapy dogs & other animals for the disabled and elderly. Some only visit facilities such as nursing homes, hospitals, and assisted living apartments, but others can make individual house calls.
 
Local
Pets on Wheels (Maryland)
PALS (Washington DC)
Paws for People (Delaware, MD, DC, Pennsylvania)
 
National
AKC List of Therapy Organizations
Pet Partners
Therapy Dogs International
Therapy Dogs

Lookalike Pets
 
Here are a selection of interactive lookalike pets that have been recommended for use with Alzheimer's and other pet therapy treatments.
 
Hasbro's Joy for All Pets
88 Unlimited Perfect Petzzz
Otter House Precious Petzzz
LIBLO Dogs
Signstek Pet

Wildlife Watching
 
Other alternatives include watching nearby wildlife such as providing birdfeeders (whose creation would also act as another fun senior activity) & birdbaths in the nearby gardens & lawns to lure them closer for birdwatching.