It’s just about every day that I see senior adults walking dogs in my neighborhood. I wonder what would happen if those seniors could no longer take care of their dogs or make the trip to the store to pick up their food. What about getting to the groomer or the vet? If they moved to senior living, would they be able to bring along their furry family members?
Happily, there are resources to keep pets and their senior owners together. Programs are springing up around the country to keep man and “beast” together.
For those seniors that desire to age in place in the comfort of their own home then home care may be the perfect solution. Many home care agencies, such as Assisting Hands Serving Reston & Northern Fairfax County can care for your dog to include their walking and feeding. There are also great doggie daycare facilities such as Healthy Hound Playground in Sterling, Virginia that are available to provide boarding, grooming or daycare for your dog.
Owning a dog, or for that matter, any animal that depends on you and provides companionship can lower depression, anxiety, stress, blood pressure and triglyceride levels. In addition to these benefits, pets can also enhance quality of life by reducing loneliness, which leads to poor mental and physical health. Pets bring purpose to senior’s lives, especially at a time when fewer people depend on them. Not only can they distract a senior from his or her own health issues, but, in the case of dogs, keep them from being sedentary. They also provide the human touch that is vital to people of any age. If you are looking to help keep your parents and pets together then bone up on these tips:
- Analyze the situation. Does Dad have a physical limitation and/or financial constraints? Is his dog lacking exercise? Reach out to friends, family and neighbors. Consider doggie day care such as Healthy Hound Playground in Sterling, Virginia, for your dog’s socialization and exercise. A neighborhood kid is another option to take your pooch to the park.
- Find a veterinarian who makes house calls.
- Explore pet insurance (i.e. PetPlan, healthpaws or trucompanion).
- Find a Home Care Agency that is pet friendly – Assisting Hands Serving Reston & Northern Fairfax County
- See if the place Mom or Dad may move to is pet-friendly. Many assisted living facilities are now starting to allow their residents to bring their pets with them.
- Rule out puppies and kittens if your parent wants to get a pet. A dog that is housebroken and been taught manners will be less work and less rambunctious than a puppy or kitten.
For more tips on helping the seniors in your life care for their pets, feel free to reach out to Ellen Hughes at Assisting Hands of Reston and Northern Fairfax County.
Ellen, a graduate of James Madison University, has lived and worked in Northern Virginia for over 35 years. Her company, Assisting Hands Home Care, grew out of Ellen’s desire to help others in her community who need assistance at home with their daily routines.
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With the new year, comes new friends! Meet our newest little fluff, Cola. #puppiesofinsta #puppiesofinstagram #puppy #rockville #healthyhoundplaygroundrockville #socute #bernesemountaindog #doggydaycare #bernesemountaindogsofinstagram
With the new year, comes new friends! Meet our newest little fluff, Cola. #puppiesofinsta #puppiesofinstagram #puppy #rockville #healthyhoundplaygroundrockville #socute #bernesemountaindog #doggydaycare #bernesemountaindogsofinstagram
Congratulations to Buster for winning our Holiday Best Dressed Contest at Healthy Hound Playground - Sterling, Va!!
He stole the show with his dapper coat and scarf combination. His impressive posing skills took the cake, winning him a FREE Full Day of Daycare!
Great job, Buster! We can`t wait for our next play date!
#dog #dogs #healthyhoundplaygroundsterling #christmas #holiday #bestdressed #contest #pup #puppy #dogsofinstagram #doggydaycare #instagram #socute #instagood #win #winter #cutedogs #fyp #fypシ #viral
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Congratulations to Buster for winning our Holiday Best Dressed Contest at Healthy Hound Playground - Sterling, Va!!
He stole the show with his dapper coat and scarf combination. His impressive posing skills took the cake, winning him a FREE Full Day of Daycare!
Great job, Buster! We can`t wait for our next play date!
#dog #dogs #healthyhoundplaygroundsterling #christmas #holiday #bestdressed #contest #pup #puppy #dogsofinstagram #doggydaycare #instagram #socute #instagood #win #winter #cutedogs #fyp #fypシ #viral
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First snow! 😋❄️#catchingsnowflakes #dogs #doggydaycare #dogsofinstagram #rockville #healthyhoundplaygroundrockville #socute #wintertime #snowday #firstsnow #instagram
First snow! 😋❄️#catchingsnowflakes #dogs #doggydaycare #dogsofinstagram #rockville #healthyhoundplaygroundrockville #socute #wintertime #snowday #firstsnow #instagram
Lili is getting to meet Santa Paws!
#healthyhoundplaygroundsterling #santaclaus #christmas #holiday #dauchshund #dog #dogs #doggo #doggydaycare #doggy #animals #animals #photography #christmasphotoshoot #dogsofinstagram #instagood #instadaily #fyp #fypシ #viral
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Lili is getting to meet Santa Paws!
#healthyhoundplaygroundsterling #santaclaus #christmas #holiday #dauchshund #dog #dogs #doggo #doggydaycare #doggy #animals #animals #photography #christmasphotoshoot #dogsofinstagram #instagood #instadaily #fyp #fypシ #viral
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Happy Birthday, Oakley!
#healthyhoundplaygroundsterling #virginia #doggydaycare #fyp #fypシ #dogoftheday #dog #dogs #dogsofinstagram #instagram #socute #instagood #instalike #instadaily #happybirthday #mood #pup #puppy #doggo
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Happy Birthday, Oakley!
#healthyhoundplaygroundsterling #virginia #doggydaycare #fyp #fypシ #dogoftheday #dog #dogs #dogsofinstagram #instagram #socute #instagood #instalike #instadaily #happybirthday #mood #pup #puppy #doggo
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We knew Scout was a smarty-pants, but we just discovered she knows how to “weave” as well. 🐶 #dogtricks #dogtricksofinstagram #dogtricktraining #dogtraining #sosmart #dogs #dogsofinstagram #rockville #dogsofinstagram #dogweave #dogsofdmv #healthyhoundplaygroundrockville #smarty-pants
We knew Scout was a smarty-pants, but we just discovered she knows how to “weave” as well. 🐶 #dogtricks #dogtricksofinstagram #dogtricktraining #dogtraining #sosmart #dogs #dogsofinstagram #rockville #dogsofinstagram #dogweave #dogsofdmv #healthyhoundplaygroundrockville #smarty-pants
Happy Birthday to our friend, Bodie!
#happybirthday #fyp #dog #dogsofinstagram #healthyhoundplaygroundsterling #photography #dogs #puppy #happy #virginia
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Happy Birthday to our friend, Bodie!
#happybirthday #fyp #dog #dogsofinstagram #healthyhoundplaygroundsterling #photography #dogs #puppy #happy #virginia
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When your sibling is in the tub and you have to wait your turn. 😂 #behindthescenes #groomingsalon #doggydaycare #grooming #doggroomersofinstagram #groom #doggrooming #doggydaycare #rockville #dogsofinstagram #instagram #dogs #dogkisses
When your sibling is in the tub and you have to wait your turn. 😂 #behindthescenes #groomingsalon #doggydaycare #grooming #doggroomersofinstagram #groom #doggrooming #doggydaycare #rockville #dogsofinstagram #instagram #dogs #dogkisses
Same Zoe, same! 🥶 #brr #itscoldoutside #rockville #healthyhoundplaygroundrockville #dogsofinstagram #doggydaycare #instagram #socute #goodnight🌙 #snugasabug #dogs #doxiesofinstagram #doxies
Same Zoe, same! 🥶 #brr #itscoldoutside #rockville #healthyhoundplaygroundrockville #dogsofinstagram #doggydaycare #instagram #socute #goodnight🌙 #snugasabug #dogs #doxiesofinstagram #doxies
We’ve been hacked! Ziggy decided he wanted to be featured on our Instagram page, so he took matters into his own paws. 🐾 #puppiesofinstagram #healthyhoundplaygroundrockville #puppyhacked #dogs #dogsofinstagram #rockville #instagram #doggydaycamp #socute #instagood #puppytakeover
We’ve been hacked! Ziggy decided he wanted to be featured on our Instagram page, so he took matters into his own paws. 🐾 #puppiesofinstagram #healthyhoundplaygroundrockville #puppyhacked #dogs #dogsofinstagram #rockville #instagram #doggydaycamp #socute #instagood #puppytakeover
Only at our Sterling, Virginia location!
**New dogs MUST complete an Intro Day before a photo date to participate.
#costumecontest #uglychristmassweater #christmas #dressup #holiday #dog #dogs #dogsofinstagram #instagood #doggydaycare #healthyhoundplayground #healthyhoundplaygroundsterling #sterlingva #virginia #virginiaisforlovers #dogsdaily #holidays #merrychristmas #happyholidays #happyholiday #photography #photooftheday #doglover
Only at our Sterling, Virginia location!
**New dogs MUST complete an Intro Day before a photo date to participate.
#costumecontest #uglychristmassweater #christmas #dressup #holiday #dog #dogs #dogsofinstagram #instagood #doggydaycare #healthyhoundplayground #healthyhoundplaygroundsterling #sterlingva #virginia #virginiaisforlovers #dogsdaily #holidays #merrychristmas #happyholidays #happyholiday #photography #photooftheday #doglover
We can`t get enough of Toby!
#healthyhoundplayground #healthyhoundplaygroundsterling #fyp #cute #adorable #pup #dog #daycare #doggydaycare #doggydaycamp #happyday #happy #instagood
#photooftheday #dogoftheday
We can`t get enough of Toby!
#healthyhoundplayground #healthyhoundplaygroundsterling #fyp #cute #adorable #pup #dog #daycare #doggydaycare #doggydaycamp #happyday #happy #instagood
#photooftheday #dogoftheday
Recap of Scout`s first day in Daycare!
#fyp #healthyhoundplaygroundsterling #healthyhoundplayground #dog #dogs #pup #puppiesofinstagram
Recap of Scout`s first day in Daycare!
#fyp #healthyhoundplaygroundsterling #healthyhoundplayground #dog #dogs #pup #puppiesofinstagram
Ok, we know it might be a little early for Christmas music and it’s not exactly a Christmas tree, but Polly and Auggie are still having fun rocking around it.🌲😀 #catchmeifyoucan #dogchase #peekaboo #socute #comeandgetme #healthyhoundplaygroundrockville #doggydaycare #dogsofinstagram #instagram #dogs #rockville #houndsofinstagram #goldensofinstagram
Ok, we know it might be a little early for Christmas music and it’s not exactly a Christmas tree, but Polly and Auggie are still having fun rocking around it.🌲😀 #catchmeifyoucan #dogchase #peekaboo #socute #comeandgetme #healthyhoundplaygroundrockville #doggydaycare #dogsofinstagram #instagram #dogs #rockville #houndsofinstagram #goldensofinstagram
