Our pets are often as much a beloved part of the family as are our children, yet they are all too often the forgotten loved ones when it comes to estate planning. With our nation’s senior population expected to double from 2012 to 2050, that means hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of pets are at risk.

Should we, or our loved one, need to be moved into a care facility, or worse, pass on, there should be a plan in place that has the pet’s and owner’s best interests in mind. In an owner’s’ sudden absence, animals can show signs of anxiety that may be mistaken for aggression, sadly resulting in being sent to an animal shelter or worse, put down. This would likely be devastating to the senior and not what they would want for their beloved pet.

Although you can’t replace the senior’s own voice, touch, how he/she plays with the pet, or just how he or she spends time walking the dog. The best that can be done is to have all of the alternatives well established in case the pet must be separated from its trusted friend.

What can you do to make sure your pets are safe, happy, and healthy even in your absence?  How about a pet “estate plan”?  Each week, Diane Rich posts exciting info for pet lovers in her Canine Chat blog.  I was happy to be able to write as a featured guest in her blog at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.  Check out the link here or click in the image below to see how you can protect your pet and be prepared.

I was happy to be able to share some helpful information with NextAvenue.org and Forbes.com readers about some of the most critical things that you need to do to prepare for eldercare.  Caring for an aging parent is challenging, but not planning ahead adds to the stress and cost immensely.

Check out our article below on Forbes.com by clicking on the image below or by clicking here:

NextAvenue.org is a national media service for America’s 50+ population, partnering with PBS.  Read our article on NextAvenue.org by clicking here, or by clicking on the image below: