About 10% of Search and Care’s clients—around 110 in total—own one or more pets. These animals are often the main source of affection and attention for an older person, so keeping the pet and Pet Parent healthy and financially secure is paramount.  That can be difficult, however, given the limited resources an older person has access to.  On the flip-side, many medical studies have shown that having a pet can be beneficial for an older person’s mental, emotional and physical well-being. Adding all of these considerations together, we at Search and Care believe the benefits of owning a pet outweigh the drawbacks.  An older person should not have to choose between their own basic needs and those of their pet.

Our Pet Parent/Financial Navigator David Rose, and Volunteer/Pets and Elders Program Coordinator Robin Strashun, hosted a webinar on November 15 that went into detail on these topics and many more, including the different organizations in NYC that can help defray the costs of owning a pet. Click here for a recording of the webinar (audio/PowerPoint presentation).

Should you have any further questions on this subject, please contact David Rose at rose@searchandcare.org, or Robin Strashun at strashun@searchandcare.org.