This another great post from our Guest Author Sharon Wagner from Senior Friendly.info and highlights some of the difficulties seniors can encounter when moving with a pet into an assisted lviving facility. Let’s take a look at some of the things to consider.
Ready to retire alongside your furry friend? Bringing a cat, dog, or other animal companion with you to an assisted living facility is a big task. Not only do you have to find a facility that will allow you to bring your pal along, but you also have to make sure your pet is ready for the transition.
Today, Secrets of Aging shares some tips for bringing your pet with you to an assisted living facility.
Where to Go
Of course, before you do anything else, you’ve got to prepare your home for sale. This will require decluttering, packing, hiring professionals for repairs or updates and cleaning your home from top to bottom. If you’re counting on the sale of your home funding your future living expenses, you want to get the most bang for your buck by using a Real Estate Professional to sell your house.
Once you have a plan for your current home, and before you list it, it’s time to look for an assisted living facility that suits your needs and lifestyle. This may seem like an overwhelming task. Thankfully, you can use online resources to help narrow your search. The listings provide you with a wealth of information about the facility, such as whether the one you have your eye on is pet-friendly or not.
Know Your Facility’s Rules
Although you may have found a community that allows pets, there are probably strict rules regarding furry friends. For a facility to safely include pets as part of the community, they have to ensure that each and every animal is healthy, safe, and well behaved. Otherwise they can wind up spreading disease, causing property damage, or even harming another pet or resident.
Make sure your pet is appropriately trained. Basic leash training for dogs, litter box training for cats, and enough playtime for any animal to avoid destructive habits are an absolute must. Moreover, you should schedule a vet checkup. Not only will this make sure your pet is healthy enough for a move, but your facility will likely need vet records anyway, to check for vaccinations and contagious conditions.
You’ll also want to consider your safety with a pet living in your new home. Trips and falls are one of the biggest causes of senior injuries, so make a plan to pet proof your living space. Declutter and keep all pet items – such as toys – in a bin and off the floor to avoid a tripping hazard.
Finally, make sure you fully understand what parts of the facility are and aren’t pet-friendly. For example, pets may only be allowed on certain floors. Dogs may be welcome in some green spaces, and not others. Ask for clarity if you’re confused about any areas and follow the rules to make sure you can keep your pet around.
Gear Up
Moving to a new place can be stressful for pets, so consider getting them some gear to help ease the transition. For example, many cats suffer from dehydration after a move, as it takes them a while to figure out where their water dish is. You can solve this by getting them a cat drinking fountain. The sound of the water will help the cat find their bowl, and the movement will entice them to drink more.
For dogs, new toys or treats can motivate them to feel safe and comfortable in a new environment. But before you purchase new pet-related products, take the time to verify their quality and reliability by checking objective reviews from the experts.
By giving them these gifts, you signal to them that this is a space where they can play and relax. Dogs respond well to signals from their owners and they will look to you for guidance. Any indication you can give them that this new space is home will help them feel at ease. Moving.com recommends hanging onto some old favorites as well and keeping up the normal routine. These measures will help Fido know all is well in his world.
Be a Good Pet Neighbor
If you’ve lived in a stand-alone home for a long time, your pet might not be a particularly good neighbor. The Humane Society says that dogs that are inclined to bark at strange sounds, for example, may need some time and training to behave appropriately in an assisted living facility. For many dogs, this process simply takes time. As they get used to the noises, their bar for “unusual” changes, and they bark less.
If that isn’t the case, however, you will need to address the situation. Consider investing in a dog training course. These will give you tools to help teach your dog to understand that the space is safe and will help you learn how to communicate when barking is not acceptable.
When it comes to moving into an assisted living facility with your pet, it’s important to make sure you fully consider every aspect of the situation. Create a smooth transition for your pal and closely follow the rules in your community, and you both should be able to thrive in your new space.
Secrets of Aging covers anti-aging topics like good nutrition, exercise, skin care, weight management, and more! If you have any questions, let us know!
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