Pets make great companions. Not only will they be there for you, but they've also proven to be great for emotional support. Many seniors find comfort in having a furry friend by their side when living alone or caring for a sick partner.
However, owning a pet is not something all seniors can afford financially. Instead of doing the unthinkable of giving up their pet, some seniors go without food in order to feed their pet. Many seniors are on fixed incomes, which forces them to make difficult financial decisions, such as withholding important medications or feeding their pets.
Programs like Meals on Wheels ensure that seniors receive at least one free hot meal a day. Meals on Wheel is a national program that reduces hunger among seniors while providing human contact for seniors living alone.
Meals on Wheels of Berkshire County, Massachusetts recently began adding pet food to its program. According to iBerkshires.com, Elder Services of Berkshire County, which has been providing meals to seniors, has partnered with the Berkshire Humane Society and Berkshire Family & Individual Resources (BFAIR) to provide meals for recipients. They have started a pet support program.
Berkshire County's Meals on Wheels program delivers pet food once a month to senior program members who are unable to travel to the store. Many of the people who receive meals from food programs are on fixed incomes, so some members may not be able to afford pet food even if they can go to the store.
Kayla Brownwood, Director of Community Services for the Aged, told iBerkshire: “Most people feed their pets before they feed themselves, so this is a great way to minimize that. This is just a great collaboration, and the idea is, “People who don't have the means to come here and visit the Berkshire Humane Society's emergency pet food bank. It’s just another way to fill a need in the community.”
Photo by Donna Cecaci on Unsplash
Old man and black and tan long coat dog
The national organization Meals on Wheel has also partnered with PetSmart Charities to help seniors keep pets at home. According to the Meals on Wheels website, the partnership has enabled “more than 25,000 Meals on Wheels customers to stay at home with their beloved companions.”
They do more than just provide food for humans and pets. Meals on Wheel supports local programs that provide pet food, grooming services, and veterinary services to senior animals who cannot otherwise afford them.
Meals on Wheels says, “According to research with our partner PetSmart Charities, 97% of pet assisted customers say Meals on Wheels has helped them keep their beloved companions.” states.
The partnership between Meals on Wheel and PetSmart Charities ensures that senior pets have what they need, including cat litter, nail clippers, complimentary boarding services, and even transportation to the veterinarian. Pets become part of the family, and for homebound seniors, the meal-on-wheels delivery person and their pet may be their only interaction. It's amazing to see that this important program hasn't forgotten about the animal companions who live with the seniors they serve.
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