Your Senior Parent Needs A Pet-Sitter, Why Do You Begin To Help Them?

By Susan Myer, RN, BSN, CCRN, CDP | July 22, 2016 | Comments Off on Your Senior Parent Needs A Pet-Sitter, Why Do You Begin To Help Them?
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Senior Care in Berkeley Heights

Americans love their pets and today pets are traveling with their owners like no time ever before. If your aging parent or other loved one for whom you’re providing senior care needs to travel Senior-Care-in-Berkelely-Heightssomewhere and go into the hospital for a procedure and can’t take their pet with them, you may need to help them figure out what to do.

Years ago about the only option was a boarding facility. But these days, pet hotels and even pet sitters are a more appealing option for some owners who want their pets to enjoy the comforts of home while they’re away. But where do you start to find a pet-sitter and what things should you look for in one?

  • Your loved one can ask their veterinarian. He or she may know of one or more pet-sitters in the area. And hiring a pet-sitter who has an established relationship with the pet’s vet could provide your loved one with peace of mind in the event of an emergency.
  • Ask family and friends who may also own pets. If they’re happy with their sitter, they’re going to be happy to share that information. Likewise, if they’re not happy, they’ll share that, too.
  • As an alternative to personal recommendations, the HSUS suggests contacting the National Association of Professional Pet-Sitters or Pet-Sitters International. These organizations are dedicated to training and certifying pet-sitters and you can get the names of certified sitters through them.
  • Put together a questionnaire of questions you or your loved one can use to screen potential sitters. The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) has a very thorough list of qualifications on their web site that can be used. One very important thing to find out is what their back-up plan is if something should happen that renders them unable to care for the pet after your loved one has left.
  • Ask for references and talk to that person about the kind of service the sitter provided for them, how satisfied they were and whether they’d use them again.
  • Carefully read the contract before signing and get a copy of it. Make sure that all the services and instructions you’ve agreed to are outlined in the agreement. The sitter should also have documentation of the pet’s feeding and toileting schedule, any medications, favorite toys, etc.
  • Find out if there are other services the sitter provides, like grooming, bathing, playtime, walking, etc., and have those things spelled out in the agreement, as well.
  • Ask them about their emergency plans in the event of a medical emergency. Do they have knowledge of animal CPR? Do they know where the nearest animal emergency clinic is?
  • Let your loved one’s pet give them a try. Have them meet the prospective sitter to see how they interact. Animals are usually good judges of people and if they’re comfortable with the sitter, chances are you or your loved one can be, too.

 

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring professional Senior Care in Berkeley Heights, NJ, please talk to the caring staff at Generations Home Health Care today. Providing Home Care in Somerset, Essex, Union, Morris and Hunterdon Counties. Call us today at (908) 290-0691 or (973) 241-4534.

Resource: www.hsus.org

Susan Myer, RN, BSN, CCRN, CDP
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