Home Care Assistance: How an Emotional Support Animal Can Help A Senior

Home care assistance is an amazing tool for a senior, but an emotional support animal may also be something your senior should utilize. Senior isolation is something that can be serious and have dire consequences. Having something there for your seniors may help them feel less isolated and happier. Owning an emotional support animal can have many health benefits. When you are worried about your loved one, hiring a home care assistance provider and finding the right emotional support animal is key to a happy life.

How Home Care Assistance Can Provide Help

Home Care Assistance Macon GA - What Support Can a Senior Have for an Emotional Support Animal?
Home Care Assistance Macon GA – Home Care Assistance: How an Emotional Support Animal Can Help A Senior

Home care assistance can help the senior stay focused on a routine. They can help ensure the senior is sleeping regularly, eating well, and being taken care of every day. Having a home care assistance provider does not mean they will be there all the time unless you get a 24/7 service. Using an emotional support animal can fill in the gaps when home care is not helping the senior.

An emotional support animal is an animal that can provide therapeutic benefits to those with disabilities, mental health problems, or psychiatric disabilities. They are not considered service animals, but they are also not considered normal pets. You may get service animals and emotional support animals confused, but they are different.

What Type of Animal Can be an Emotional Support Animal?

You may be surprised to find out that almost all animals can be an emotional support animal. This means any domesticated animal can be an ESA. If your senior loves a certain type of pet you may be able to establish them as an ESA. Here are the types of animals that can be an emotional support animal.

  • Cats
  • Dogs
  • Rabbits
  • Birds
  • Hedgehogs

Having an emotional support animal is a lot less demanding than having a service animal. They can be there to emotionally guide a senior but not necessarily trained to do anything. Even though they are not trained there are some massive benefits of having an ESA. They can be any age and live with your seniors for as long as they live.

Where to Get an Emotional Support Animal?

Any domestic animal can qualify to be an emotional support animal. If you have been thinking about getting one for your senior the best thing you can do is start with the local shelters. There are plenty of bunnies, cats, dogs, and other small animals that need a good home. Set up an appointment with the local shelter and have the home care assistance provider drive the senior there. They can then choose an animal they want to bond with.

Once the animal comes home to the senior, that is when you need to focus on an ESA letter. This is the next step to take to get the pet registered as an ESA animal. A doctor or health care professional may have to write something stating what disability a senior has to register their pet as an ESA.

If you or an aging loved-one is considering Home Care Assistance Services in Macon GA please contact the caring staff at Angels of Mercy Private Homecare Services, Inc. today at 478-745-5111.

Zandrea Durham