Seniors, Pets, & Planning
By Barry Zimmer on July 1st, 2014 in Estate Planning
People go through a lot of changes in their lives as different stages come and go. We all pass away at some point in time. Many elders lose their partners and this is clearly something that can be difficult to adjustment. When this occurs, your children are typically gone and your grandchildren may be adults as well. One may begin to experience a new loneliness. This is simply a fact of life. You can take it lying down or adopt a positive attitude and make changes that liven up the house.
One really good option is to adopt a pet. Pet ownership can be invaluable to seniors who are feeling lonely and without any particular sense of purpose. When you bring a pet into the home you acquire a best friend for life. Once again, you have someone relying on you for food, shelter, love and affection. As a bonus, some pets are good protectors, even if they simply bark to let you know that there is something going on outside.
Pets need exercise and of course it is the owner who must provide this. An added benefit to pet ownership can keep you physically active which is good for your own physical and mental health.
Of course when you become a pet owner later in your life there is a possibility that you will predecease the animal. For this reason it is important to include pet planning in your overall estate plan. This will include identifying a suitable caretaker and providing this individual with the financial resources necessary to provide for the pet.
There are a number of ways to go about making financial arrangements, including a direct bequest to the caretaker and the possible creation of a pet trust. To learn more about pet planning, simply pick up the phone and get in touch with an experienced estate planning attorney to arrange for a consultation. The Zimmer Law Firm can help. 513.721.1513.