Many people of all ages have beloved pets in their home. For people entering hospice, dogs, cats, and support animals can provide immense comfort and support. But they also require their own care, which may become a burden for your aging loved one.
First, let’s look at some of the many ways pets can improve quality of life for people in hospice care:
- Emotional Support: The presence of pets can reduce feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and depression. Their unconditional love and companionship create a calming atmosphere.
- Physical Comfort: Animals can provide tactile comfort through cuddling and petting, which can be soothing and promote relaxation.
- Social Interaction: Animals can encourage interaction between patients, family members, and caregivers, helping to foster connections and conversations.
- Distraction from Pain: Engaging with animals can distract patients from their pain and discomfort, providing a temporary escape and improving their overall mood.
- Routine and Structure: Caring for animals can help create a sense of routine and responsibility, which can be grounding for patients.
- Memories and Joy: Animals often evoke fond memories and positive feelings, helping patients reflect on happier times in their lives.
In the at-home hospice context, having a pet or pets in the home can create a more complicated caregiving environment. Whether someone can or should keep their pet while in hospice care often comes down to case-by-case situations and is one of the many items that should regularly be reevaluated over the course of hospice care. Here are some key points to consider:
- Home Hospice: In our experience, allowing an individual to keep their pet is usually the best approach, as long as the environment can remain safe and comfortable for both the patient and the animal.
- Support Animals: If the pet is a certified support animal, there may be additional considerations and allowances.
- Pet Care Arrangements: If keeping the pet is not feasible, hospice staff can often help connect families with resources to ensure the pet is cared for.
- Animal Visits: Even for people in hospice who do not have a pet, periodic visits with animals can be highly therapeutic and life-affirming. This may take the form of a visit to a local adoption agency or neighbor with a pet, if feasible.
At Blue Water Hospice, we value the connections our hospice patients have made with their “furry friends,” and we have experience helping to maintain those connections as long as possible in the hospice setting. Communication with our hospice team is crucial to explore options and find the best solution for both the patient and their beloved pet.
