Ascend Pet Peace of Mind Program

Ascend Hospice recognizes the special bond between hospice patients and their pets. We believe that no one should have to give up their pet because of their illness.

An older woman joyfully interacts with a small dog in a park, surrounded by trees and natural light.

How Our Pet Peace of Mind Program Works

The Pet Peace of Mind program helps hospice patients keep their beloved pets at home, improving quality of life for both people and pets during this important transition.

Our hospice Pet Peace of Mind program provides volunteer pet care services for patients who are unable to care for their pets while on hospice. This comprehensive peace of mind pet care ensures that patients can complete their end-of-life journey without worrying about their pet’s current needs.

A smiling senior man in a wheelchair pets a black lab dog.

Pet Care for Hospice Patients

The Pet Peace of Mind program at Ascend Health is designed with both patients and their animal companions in mind. When families are contemplating hospice for a loved one with a pet, our specialized program offers peace of mind by addressing pet care needs during this difficult time.

Our volunteers provide essential services to support hospice pet peace of mind program participants:

  • Routine walking
  • Socialization/playtime
  • Feeding
  • Waste management

By providing these services, we ensure that the special bond between hospice patients and their pets remains intact throughout the end-of-life journey.

Benefits of Peace of Mind Pet Care for Hospice Patients

Research has shown that pets provide numerous benefits to people facing serious illness, including:

  • Emotional comfort and reduced anxiety: Studies have demonstrated that interacting with pets can lower cortisol (stress hormone) levels. For hospice patients experiencing anxiety about end-of-life concerns, their pet’s familiar presence provides irreplaceable comfort that medication alone cannot deliver.
  • Companionship during a difficult time: Hospice patients often experience feelings of isolation as their condition progresses. Pets offer consistent, non-judgmental companionship and unconditional love. This special bond can reduce feelings of loneliness and provide emotional support when patients need it most.
  • A sense of normalcy and routine: When so much is changing for hospice patients, pets provide continuity and purpose. The daily rituals of caring for or simply being with a pet maintain familiar routines and responsibilities that anchor patients during times of transition, helping them maintain dignity and identity.
  • Unconditional love and acceptance: As patients experience physical changes or limitations, pets continue to offer the same affection and acceptance they always have. This unconditional positive regard provides immense psychological comfort when patients may feel vulnerable or changed by their illness.
  • Physical benefits from interacting with pets: Even limited physical interaction with pets can provide tangible health benefits including reduced blood pressure, decreased pain perception, and improved mood. Peace of mind pet care ensures these benefits continue throughout the hospice journey.

The Ascend Health Pet Peace of Mind program helps maintain these benefits by keeping patients and pets together during hospice care. Our pet program is designed to alleviate stress for both patients and their family caregivers by removing concerns about pet care during hospice treatment. By providing comprehensive pet care for hospice patients, we allow families to focus on spending quality time together rather than worrying about pet care logistics.

FAQs - Pet Peace of Mind Program

The hospice Pet Peace of Mind program is a specialized service offered by Ascend Hospice that provides volunteer pet care services for patients receiving end-of-life care. The pet program recognizes the important bond between patients and their animals and works to ensure they can remain together throughout the hospice journey by offering assistance with all aspects of pet care.

Pet hospice care in our pet program involves volunteers providing essential services for the pets of hospice patients who may be unable to fully care for their animals. This includes feeding, walking, playtime, and waste management. The goal is to provide peace of mind pet care — maintaining the pet’s health and well-being while keeping them with their owner during hospice care.

Pet hospice refers to end-of-life care for animals, but in the context of our pet program, we focus on providing care for the pets of hospice patients. The Pet Peace of Mind program ensures pets receive proper care while their owners are receiving hospice services, allowing them to remain together during this important time.

Yes, absolutely. The entire purpose of the Pet Peace of Mind program is to ensure that hospice patients can remain with their pets throughout their end-of-life journey. Our volunteers help make this possible by providing the necessary care and support to keep pets in the home with their owners.

A senior woman with white hair holds a fluffy dog with a white and gray coat.

Supporting Patients and Pets Through Life's Transition: The Pet Peace of Mind Program

The Pet Peace of Mind program exemplifies Ascend Hospice’s commitment to compassionate, holistic end-of-life care. By addressing the needs of both patients and their beloved pets, we help ensure no one faces the additional burden of separation from their animal companions during hospice care.

Support for Pet Care, Peace of Mind for You

For more information about our Pet Peace of Mind program or to learn how our pet program can help you or your loved one, contact us or call 866.821.1212 today.