Your family has gathered and they are talking about the care your dad needs now. You’re also planning for the future. Not only is this going to save you stress in the future, but it also ensures that every possible need is addressed. When you plan care needs in a rush, you often overlook things. A good senior care plan should be put in place and include pet care.

One area that you need to address is your dad’s cat. Include his cat in care plans now to avoid having to figure out what to do in a rush. These are the points to consider.

Cats Can Be More Independent

While dogs need to be walked outside and let out for bathroom breaks, cats are more independent. With fresh water, food, and a clean litter box, a cat won’t need too much care. Your dad can brush the cat when it’s on his lap. The cat will seek him out when it wants attention.

How Old Is His Cat?

How old is your dad’s cat? If something happened to him and he could no longer care for his cat, an older cat may have a much harder time acclimating to a new home. A young cat may adapt more easily. Plus, people are often hesitant to adopt older cats simply because of their shorter lifespan.

If his cat is older, try to have arrangements in place before they’re needed. If you or another family member could take in the cat, make that part of the plan.

Who Can Help With the Cat’s Care?

Some cat care tasks become more challenging for an aging adult. These chores include litter box cleanings and remembering when to feed the cat. If the cat has health issues, medication management may be necessary.

Someone needs to stop by and help with these tasks each day. Caregivers may be willing to help out, but you could also pay an area teen or professional pet sitter to stop in and help.

Some litter boxes are self-cleaning and may be useful. Once the cat has used it, the machine turns on and cleans out pet waste and stores it in a sealed bin. Once a week or so, that bin needs to be emptied.

When senior care services are needed, make sure the arrangements are made ASAP. You don’t want your dad struggling to live independently. If it’s going to take a bit of time to get onto a senior care agency’s schedule, split tasks between family members to make sure he’s never alone when he needs help. If you plan ahead, wait times are less likely to impact you.

If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Senior Care Menlo Park, CA, and the surrounding area, call the caring staff at Aviva In-Home Care.
Call today: (415) 795-2203

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Evan Loevner

CEO at Aviva In-Home Care

As a former hospital administrator, I launched Aviva with the goal of having a more focused, direct impact on the delivery of care than I could ever accomplish within a hospital setting. For me, the joy of running an organization like Aviva In-Home Care is having the ability to positively improve the lives of individuals needing customized care. As a passionate Bay Area resident, I know that many local seniors can benefit from new approaches to in-home care, that will bring them more connection to the community, and provide families with a greater sense of comfort that their loved one is indeed matched with an ideal caregiver.

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