A Pet Might Not Be a Senior's Best Friend

MediNurse, now in its fourth decade as the premier provider of private duty nursing in St. Louis, reminds the public that pets are cute, friendly – and, often, underfoot.

Pets are in fact the second leading the cause of falls in the senior population. A senior with less-than-perfect vision might not see a small pet when underfoot. A senior who is shaky while walking may be at risk with a pet in the house.

Animals make terrific social companions for seniors, as long as someone in the house can monitor the pets to keep the humans safe. Here are some tips to follow when pets are present in the household:

· It might be necessary to remove a pet from a loved one’s living area at certain times of the day. If Fido is especially feisty at noontime, he needs to be kept away from seniors walking around the house.

· Keep an eye on the situation and issue verbal reminders to watch out for pets when an elderly loved one is rising from a chair or crossing a room.

· Make sure the pet’s leash is detached after walks and not left trailing.

· Keep pet toys and chew bones out of pathways around the house.

· Many accidents occur when walking a dog. Pet obedience training is important and can minimize behaviors such as pushing and pulling.

· Keep in mind that, according to the Centers for Disease Control, dogs precipitate almost eight times as many falls as cats do. Maybe it’s time to turn an elderly loved one into a “cat” person!

MediNurse provides services that are customized to the individual needs of the client or patient and loved ones to ensure the best care possible. For more information, call us at 314-781-2800 or visit www.medinurse.com