04/11/2026
🐶 🐾 👉 Dog lovers, you won’t want to miss this story – or an amazingly well-behaved four-legged model!
Perfect for National Pet Day, this FOX31 Great Day Colorado segment provides guidance for seniors who continue to live with their beloved animals, but may need to consider safety measures, as well as the question of who will care for their pets when health issues make it difficult.
But first, the benefits. Dr. Louis Capponi, Center Medical Director at InnovAge Colorado PACE – Thornton, explained that having a pet can help lower blood pressure while improving mental health and mobility, in addition to providing love, purpose, and companionship. At the same time, Dr. Capponi encouraged seniors to look ahead: to identify a future caregiver and an emergency plan, and even consider legal or financial planning for the pet’s welfare. This all goes a long way in ensuring peace of mind for seniors and their families.
The segment also featured Parker Dato, Occupational Therapist and Regional Director of Therapy. Along with his sidekick, Keva, he shared tips that incorporate his specialty, occupational therapy. It’s about adapting the task to each unique situation, he said. This can mean avoiding too much bending over, and minimizing the potential for falls. His tips included keeping a small container of food and the pet’s bowls close to a chair rather than making repeated trips to the kitchen, and easing the grip on the leash during walks.
Thanks to Dr. Capponi, Parker, and of course, Keva, for providing important safety information while also celebrating the special bond we all have with our pets, at any age. Happy Pet Day from the InnovAge PACE team!