When your loved one or senior starts thinking about a pet, it is important to know what they want the pet for. In-home care may be able to help discuss what the senior needs on a day-to-day basis and what they’re looking for. Knowing the difference between a pet, an emotional support animal, and a service animal is crucial in some cases. A senior who has a pet may gain some serious mental health advantages by adopting. However, suppose they are looking for an animal to help with certain health issues, like warn a human about a seizure or help them listen or see. In that case, this will determine where they find their animals.
Understanding the key differences between these types of animals is crucial. They will have different jobs, different licenses, and different qualifications. In-home care can be a huge help but keep in mind that if a senior cannot control their own animal or take care of them, they may not qualify for the service animal. In-home care can help a senior determine which animal best suits their lifestyle. Take a look at these key differences.
Service Animal
One of the major differences you will find between all three categories is that a service animal can only be a trained dog. They go through extensive training and then the seniors will have to attend a training session too. Here are all of the qualifications to get a service animal.
In-Home Care in Hollywood, CA: Seniors and Service Animals
- Older than 14
- Disability
- Has one seizure per month
- Hearing loss (moderate to severe)
- Can participate in the training process
- Can command the dog
- Meet the needs of the dog
- Has a stable environment
- The dog can help improve their lives
- No other dogs
ESA or Emotional Support Animals
Unlike a service animal, this can be any type of domestic animal. All a senior needs to do is adopt an animal they have a connection with and fill out a letter. This letter will need to state if they have any mental health problems and a diagnosis of the problems. With the help of a therapist or psychologist, any animal can be an ESA. These are also different from therapy animals. How? ESA’s work with one person only, whereas a therapy animal goes around a hospital helping multiple people relax. Therapy animals are great, but ESA’s are better for seniors looking to have emotional support or a smaller companion for when the in-home care specialist leaves for the day.
Here is what you might need to qualify for an emotional support animal. If you don’t know if the senior qualifies in-home care or a doctor can help make this decision.
- ADD
- Learning disabilities
- Anxiety disorders
- Depression
- Bipolar
- Intellectual disabilities.
- Pets
Although many pets are sure ways to make a seniors life better they technically don’t have a job. They are not qualified to help be a professional companion and they do not go through training like a service dog. These are average pets that can enhance a seniors life.
If you or an aging loved-one is considering In-Home Care in Hollywood, CA please contact the caring staff at Nu Care Inc. today at. 800-505-6890
Sources
https://www.umassmed.edu/TransitionsACR/resources/emotional-support-animals-101/