What Has The Experience Been Like Moving With A Dog
“We moved to The Chocolate Quarter in February 2018 and it was probably one of the best decisions Ive ever made. We live in this super quirky building, in beautiful countryside and midway between two great cities, Bristol and Bath. But above all, having Trilby has opened up so many opportunities for meeting people and making new friends.
Trilby is allowed with me in most areas of The Chocolate Quarter and she and her fellow four legged friends receive adoration from just about everyone they meet everywhere they go. I couldnt be without my faithful, mischievous, stubborn, funny and, above all, affectionate furry companion. Love me, love my dog!
Pets Allow Residents To Maintain A Sense Of Purpose
Sometimes, a resident may feel taking care of their pet is one of the only reasons they feel a need to get up in the morning caring for their pet provides them with a sense of purpose and something to look forward to.
How does caring for a pet maintain this sense of purpose?
There are several ways, including:
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Walking, playing, feeding, and grooming a dog creates a routine and helps seniors avoid solitude and stay active
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Since pets, such as dogs, need to be cared for at all times, they provide seniors with a sense of purpose
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When seniors look forward to doing something daily, they find meaning in their lives
Senior Services of America is committed to helping seniors live their best lives, and we believe in bringing the comforts of home into their new home which is why we allow pets in our assisted living facilities. Contact us to find out more.
Social Benefits Associated With Assisted Living With Pets
If you are new to the pet-friendly assisted living facility, the pet can be an excellent ice breaker and a way to meet others. Sometimes even an introverted resident cannot help but ask to meet a cute and cuddly pet and its owner.
Seniors can make strong friendship bonds with people who enjoy and love pets in their new home.
Some of the ways pets help to meet others might be:
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Take a dog for a stroll, and strangers who would never approach you will suddenly strike up a conversation
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Even a small smile from a passerby is a connection that can brighten a seniors day
Challenges Of Pet Ownership
Pets are a wonderful way to give senior citizens the feeling of companionship and security they crave, but many seniors cannot take care of pets on their own. Those with mobility issues may have trouble taking care of large dogs, for example. Seniors with health issues may have trouble taking a daily walk. Pet care may also become expensive. Senior citizens should make sure that they can afford a pet before choosing to bring one into their retirement home.
Having a pet can improve a seniors physical and emotional health. Especially dogs are beneficial for the heart. Having a pet around can help senior citizens overcome depression, and they can be great companions for older adults. Even though pets require a lot of maintenance, they can provide seniors with a sense of purpose and social connection. Pets can also reduce stress and blood pressure. Seniors with pets also tend to live longer, according to peer-reviewed medical journals. Seniors with pets tend to have fewer doctor visits, and they are generally healthier as well, due to the effort and time they devote to keeping them healthy.
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Impact Of Breed Restrictions On Pet Ownership In Assisted Living Communities
While a pet can be an important part of a seniors life, some facilities do not allow them. In fact, many states prohibit certain breeds of dogs. Pit-Bulls, Boxers, and German Shepherds are among the breeds that are prohibited. Senior living communities may also restrict the presence of Pit-Bull mixes and service animals. Although senior living communities may not allow certain types of dogs, they do allow service animals.
While pet policy reform has led to a decrease in breed restrictions, many assisted living communities still maintain rules limiting the number of pets allowed. While some communities have no breed restrictions, many require residents to register their pets as designated pet owners. These communities may also require proof of vaccinations for their pets. While it is difficult to prove that a pet is friendly to residents, many communities have policies requiring proof of ownership.
In addition to offering companionship, pets bring joy and companionship to seniors. They can even ease the transition to assisted living communities, as pets can help older adults feel more comfortable in their new environment. While separating a senior from their beloved pet can increase their feelings of loneliness, a pet is an excellent way to ease the transition to a new community. And while moving into a senior living community may seem like a major change, a pet will make their new home much easier.
Pets Can Help Residents Stay More Active
Pets, like dogs, require walking and being brought outside to use the bathroom. To keep their pet healthy, the resident will need to provide their furry friend with exercise.
And for many older adults, thats a good thing!
Heres why:
This can help yourself avoid a stationary lifestyle, which in turn, will keep their body and minds healthy.
Findings from the World Health Organization affirm that a stationary lifestyle is a major underlying cause of death, disease, and disability. Physical activity decreases causes of mortality, cardiovascular disease, type II diabetes, and obesity.
Research shows that older adults who own a dog walk an average of 22 minutes a day more than seniors who dont have a dog. Another study has found that owning a dog promotes health and fitness even after taking your pup for a stroll, increasing leisure-time physical activity by 69 percent.
Health Benefits Associated With Assisted Living With Pets
There are verifiable physical health benefits to owning an animal. These benefits include a persons mental, physical, and emotional health.
Here are just a few of the benefits associated with pet ownership:
Owning a pet is very often worth the work it takes. In a pet-friendly assisted living facility, many elderly adults may feel more at home when they have a trusted companion by their side.
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Get A Tailored List Of Senior Living Options
Our free tool provides assisted living options based on your unique situation.
Some communities provide personalized pet care, typically for an extra fee. Senior living staff may schedule a time to meet the pet, learn about their needs as well as the owners, and develop a care plan. This can include a seasonal plan to assist seniors in bad or snowy weather.
Pet-friendly senior living communities that dont offer pet care may facilitate services from outside vendors, including:
- Group pet activities such as pet happy hours
The Center For Elephant Conservation
In May of 2016, Ringling Bros. Circus officially retired their last 11 circus elephants to a sanctuary in Florida. The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Center for Elephant Conservation sits on 200 acres of land between Tampa and Orlando. The facility holds 40 Asian elephants who have either retired from the circus since 1995, or are offspring of retirees.
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Saddlebrooke In Tucson Arizona
If you want a place that will be a paradise for your four-legged children, then consider SaddleBrooke in Tucson, Arizona. At Saddlebrooke, youll find several beautiful amenities and many of those cater to Rover. For example, the DesertView Sports Club, located inside of SaddleBrooke, provides a lot of outdoor events as well as housing a large, lovely dog park near some soccer fields.
SaddleBrooke itself is located in a beautiful area, right at the bottom of the beautiful Santa Catalina Mountains. Youll not only get to experience the lovely views of these mountains, but this area also provides plenty of fun recreational activities for seniors. This senior community is so popular that its won awards for its social activities and amenities. Another thing thats unique is that they also allow people that are forty and older to live here, not just 55 and up.
The best amenity youll find in SaddleBrooke is Dexters Place Dog Park. At this dog park, you can get active with Rover and enjoy some lovely outdoor time with other residents and their dogs. The dog park is a great place to start getting socially active and making new friends. The SaddleBrooke Dog Park Association maintains the park, and the park is only open to the residents.
- Fitness centers
We All Love Our Furry Friends But Do Nursing Homes Allow Pets
When it comes to our pets, we understand that they are more like family. A significant concern of older pet-owners is whether nursing homes will allow them to keep their beloved pets. So, do nursing homes allow pets? This is a question that many people ask. The short answer is that some do and some do not. It really depends on the management of the home and the other residents.
The Value of Pets
The benefits of companion animals, like cats and dogs, for helping the elderly cope on a daily basis have been widely studied, and the conclusions have been surprising. Most dog and cat owners understand implicitly the joys that their beloved animals bring them, but it is well worth looking into just what they offer to the elderly. Consider the following:
Pets in Aged Care Environments
There are some fantastic pet therapy programs being run in aged care facilities. In fact, many of these facilities are more welcoming of pets than they used to be because of the proven benefits to both mental and physical health for the residents.
Maintaining connection is important throughout our lives because we are social creatures by nature. Whether we find connection through a beloved pet or through another person, we strongly believe that encouraging this communicative spirit results in an aged care environment that is supportive, friendly, and of excellent quality.
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Who Looks After The Pets In Assisted Living Facilities
Assisted living facilities encourage occupants to remain as independent as possible. The same translates to care for pets because the senior residents cannot neglect their pets if they are to serve their purpose well.
Seniors are normally in charge of looking after their pets while in assisted living facilities. It includes things like making sure they are well-fed, clean, they engage in exercise, and vaccinations are up-to-date. However, if a senior citizen is not in a position to complete the tasks safely in a satisfactory manner, they usually get assistance from expert caregivers.
The professionals ensure that both the older adults and the animals receive top-notch care and they remain happy for extended periods to enjoy mutually beneficial relationships. Some luxury assisted living residences even employ pet care coordinators who are responsible for overseeing veterinary care, pet health and vaccines. It ensures that the pets are well groomed, walked, fed and happy.
Bonterra At Woodforest In Montgomery Texas
If youd like to live close to Houston, then Bonterra at Woodforest in Montgomery, Texas, just might be the pet-friendly senior retirement community that youre seeking. Youll find over seven hundred homes nestled inside of Bonterra. Homeowners have many beautiful amenities and are encased by lovely views of the Texas countryside.
One of the best amenities youll find at Bonterra is the residential dog park, dubbed Admiral Bark Park. Youll discover Admiral Bark Park, named after the communitys first dog resident, Admiral Paul, located in the Woodforest area of the community. In the park and around the Woodforest area, youll find plenty of open space where you can easily play with your pets and let them run freely. Both large and small dogs are welcomed here.
The park features several watering stations. So, if you are out walking the community with your pooch and you find that Rover needs a drink, you can head over to the park to get him one. The park also features several dog clean-up stations.
While the dog park is our favorite amenity in this beautiful residential community, its certainly not the only one from which youll benefit. At Bonterra, youll also find an age-restricted clubhouse where several fun activities and games are held weekly for seniors. There are also plenty of hiking trails near the community, so youll have plenty of places to roam with Rover. These trails are also excellent for biking and picnicking.
Youll also find a golf course that features:
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What Does Pet Friendly Assisted Living Mean
At Senior Living Residences, we are pleased to call ourselves pet friendly. We understand how long-loved pets are like family and seniors are loathe to leave them behind when making the move to an assisted living community. We also know first-hand the enormous benefits that pet ownership brings to people of all ages, with special benefits for older individuals.
You are welcome to bring your own pet that you care for yourself at all but three of our assisted living communities. Our communities also feature popular pet therapy programs so that all of our residents can enjoy interacting with a variety of cuddly animals.
Our furry friends offer many benefits for seniors. Petting a dog or cat promotes a feeling of calmness, soothes anxiety, eases pain and lowers blood pressure. Taking care of a beloved pet increases mobility, independence and feelings of purpose. And best yet the unconditional love, affection and companionship of a pet promotes overall well-being and happiness!
Building A Relationship With Neighbors
Developing a relationship with a neighbor can help an elderly person who lives alone. You can start by playing games or visiting them during group activities. As you get to know your neighbors, you can offer to help them out when theyre in need. For example, if you live in an apartment complex, you can arrange to sit with a new resident during group activities. That way, you can get to know them better and help them adjust to their new environment.
Depending on the situation, you may notice a few things about your elderly neighbor. For example, the neighbor may no longer drive or leave the newspaper outside, or they may look unclean and out of place. The elderly neighbor may not answer the phone, and you might not feel comfortable dropping by to see them. If you have an elderly neighbor who lives alone, you can call the local police non-emergency line and ask to speak to a neighbor who is unable to answer the phone.
The study found that male respondents were more likely to provide assistance to their neighbors. However, the gender differences were not statistically significant. While men are more likely to help their neighbors, women were more likely to give them emotional support. Regardless of gender, however, its important to remember that its important to establish a good relationship with neighbors. These relationships can make a world of difference for the elderly who live alone.
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What Are The Potential Downsides Of Having A Pet In Senior Living Communities
There are some potential negatives to having a pet in senior housing with you that are important to consider before you make a final decision about where to live. The first is that your pet will have less room to roam in senior housing than they probably are used to. For small pets, this usually isn’t too big of a concern, but for larger dogs, it may be something to consider before you move in. The other issue is that there may be some limits on where you can take your pet within the senior housing community or how it can interact with others. Not all seniors are comfortable with animals, and some may not react well to your pet. While this isn’t typically a huge issue in centers that are pet-friendly, it’s still important to think about how you’d like to handle any conflicts surrounding your pet. The final downside is that some facilities charge extra fees for pets because they require extra cleaning. While these fees usually aren’t too expensive, this may be a deterrent if you are on a budget. Be sure to ask your facility about any potential fees before signing a lease to avoid being blindsided.
Are Pets Allowed In Nursing Homes
Some nursing homes not only allow residents to have pets in their rooms, but also allow pet visitations if someone else is caring for the pet. There are other nursing homes that may restrict the types of pets their residents can have by size. Then there are some that do not allow any pets under any circumstances due to safety concerns for all of the residents. Policies vary from facility to facility so its best to ask ahead of time as youre considering different living arrangements.
If you didn’t have a pet prior to moving into a new facility, it is not recommended to adopt one beforehand. Many nursing home and care facilities are not keen on the idea of new or untrained pets. Also, keep the needs of your pet in mind. A house cat may do just fine in a nursing home if it is allowed while a dog that’s used to a yard to roam may not be best suited for this type of living.
For those nursing homes that do not allow their residents to have pets on a regular basis for one reason or another, pet therapy programs may still be offered. Many facilities recognize the benefits pets can have on their residents and bring in these programs as part of their care packages.
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