Dogs and Senior Citizens
Dogs and senior citizens are a great match. A dog-loving senior can get so much from the right dog; companionship and unconditional love, a sense of purpose, confidence, and improved health. The lucky dog wins as well. He gains a loving home, a best friend, and an important job.
Do you want to help foster these relationships? Here are some ideas:
- Take your well-socialized, well-mannered, well-groomed, and vaccinated or titered dog for regular visits to nursing homes or assisted living facilities. Contact the director before visiting. Ask if they welcome canine visitors, and what their requirements are. Visit Therapy Dogs International for more information.
- Do you know a senior who would love to have a dog, but cannot easily afford one? Commit to cover all or a portion of a dog’s expenses, on your own or as a group. Be sure you can keep your financial committment. Be prepared to rehome or take the dog if the senior can no longer keep it.
- Help a senior find the right dog. Enlist the help of shelter and rescue workers, or a behaviorist. Often, the less-energetic senior dog is the best choice for a senior citizen. The Senior Dogs Project has a list of groups that specialize in matching senior citizens with senior dogs. Help the new owner and her dog through the adjustment period. Offer to help the senior teach her dog the basics, and maybe a few tricks.
- Walk a dog and clean up the yard for someone who cannot easily do so. This simple act may allow that person to keep their dog. (This is a good volunteer opportunity for responsible, dog-loving kids.)
- Big bags of dog food are economical, but heavy. Offer to get a neighboring senior’s dog food during your errands and deliver it to her.
- Help a senior bathe and groom her dog.
- Volunteer to transport dog and owner to the vet for care.
- Volunteer to dog-sit if a senior has to be away from home.
- Are you a good trainer? Volunteer to teach low-cost or free classes covering the basics of manners, obedience, dog psychology, and health care to group of seniors and their dogs. They may be the best students you’ve ever taught.
