It’s raining cats and dogs, and your mom wants one to move in. The experts weighed in on what older adults and their families should consider before a pet becomes Mom’s newest roommate.

Of course, we know your mother checks with you and your siblings before making any major decision that could eventually become your responsibility. But should you know someone whose mother is slightly less collaborative, feel free to pass this along.

🧓 The Senate moved to reauthorize the Older Americans Act, which helps fund meals, transportation, caregiver support and other services that help older adults stay in their homes and communities.

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🌟 A California senior living worker celebrated 50 years on the job without taking a single sick day.

👫 AARP looks at why Lewy body dementia can be especially hard on caregivers, and why peer support matters.

💕 Care.com’s new report finds sandwich-generation caregivers start at age 34 on average, as eldercare responsibilities are arriving earlier for many families.

Turns out, having someone waiting by the door who is genuinely thrilled you made it home from CVS can be good for you.

A University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging found that 83% of pet owners over 50 said their animal gives them a sense of purpose. Another 71% said their pet helps them enjoy life, 70% said it connects them with others, and 63% said it reduces stress.

It makes sense. A pet can give Mom companionship, affection, routine, and a reason to get off the couch that is not another doctor’s appointment. A furry friend may help her meet neighbors, move more, and feel needed. And for someone who is increasingly being cared for by others, caring for an animal can preserve an important part of her identity. Muffins makes Mom feel like she is still someone’s person.

Geriatricians and veterinarians agree that pets can be wonderful companions for older adults, provided the animal fits the person’s health, home, finances, and lifestyle. A calm, house-trained, 12-pound senior dog is a very different roommate from a 70-pound puppy with the energy of a middle-schooler on Mountain Dew.

But pets come with more than unconditional love. Dogs pull. Cats get underfoot. Toys, bowls, leashes, litter boxes, and late-night trips outside can all create fall risks. Mom may also need to bend, lift bags of food, clean up accidents, manage medications, schedule vet appointments, and wrestle an unhappy animal into the car.

And even rescue animals aren’t free. The same Michigan poll found that 31% of pet owners over 50 said having a pet strains their budget, up from 18% in 2018. Food is only the cover charge. There are vaccinations, medications, grooming, boarding, dental care, and emergency vet visits, which tend to happen at 11 p.m. on a holiday weekend.

Before a pet becomes Mom’s new roommate, talk through:

The vibe: Does this particular animal’s size, age, temperament, training, and energy level fit Mom’s abilities and home?

Daily chores: Can Mom safely feed, walk, groom, medicate, and clean up after the animal?

The digs: Are pets allowed, and can Mom manage the stairs, doors, yard, litter box, and other potential hazards?

Mom’s health: Could allergies, fragile skin, mobility changes, memory loss, or medications that increase fall risk make caring for this animal more difficult?

The cost: Can she cover routine care, grooming, medications, boarding, and an unexpected vet bill?

The transportation: Who gets the pet to the vet if Mom cannot drive or lift the carrier?

What if’s: Who steps in during an illness, hospitalization, vacation, rehabilitation stay, or emergency evacuation?

The long-term plan: Who takes the pet if Mom can no longer provide care, and does that person know they have been nominated?

The animal’s needs: Is the pet consistently getting enough food, exercise, attention, medication, and veterinary care?

Your role: What are you actually willing to do, pay for, or eventually take home?

If Mom already has a pet and you are concerned, do not open with, “You can’t take care of Muffins anymore.” That will go about as well as the time you mentioned permanently parking the car.

Start with the relationship instead: “I know how much Muffins means to you, and I want to help make sure you can stay together safely.” Then gently and calmly share what you have noticed. Maybe the evening walk has become difficult since her fall, lifting the litter hurts her back, or the latest vet bill caught everyone by surprise. Leave room for her to tell you how she’s feeling and then plan accordingly. 

The answer may not be removing the pet. It may be hiring a dog walker, using a mobile groomer, buying an automatic feeder, ordering lighter bags of food, or asking a neighbor to help when the sidewalks are icy.

And if Mom wants an animal but is not ready for full-time responsibility, she could foster, pet-sit, volunteer at a shelter, or adopt an older, trained pet instead of bringing home a puppy who plans to eat both her slippers and her security deposit. Veterinarians at Texas A&M recommend choosing a pet based on the older adult’s abilities and lifestyle, with family support filling in where needed.

Whether Mom should have a pet comes down to whether she and Muffins are safe, supported, and good for each other. Age alone is not a reason to take away her companion. But love alone is not enough to keep them together safely.

You can’t fail this one. Answers and another quiz drop next week.

You said it. This week’s submissions.

"I took my 80-year young mom to get her second tattoo!"

"My mom and my young son both asking for more of my attention is breaking me."

"I had a wonderful dinner at my parents' house. It was relaxing for the first time in awhile." 

"My sibling declared she quit and will not be helping anymore."

"Going on a work trip...feeling guilty that I'm looking forward to the break."

"My aunt and uncle came to visit my mom and I got a whole day to myself."