For many seniors, a pet is not a luxury when it comes to selecting a senior living option. It is a necessity. If your mother will not consider a community that does not allow her dog, or your father just will not budge when it comes to his cat, that is where the search begins, not with floor plans and menus.
Ask your parent what they need, for both of them
Before touring a single community, ask your parent what they need in a community for them and their animal companion. This is crucial for both their physical and emotional well-being. For instance, they may need a first floor unit so that the dog can be let out quickly, or they may need to be close to a vet that they already trust. According to AARP, 97% of pet owners age 50 and older consider their pets to be part of their family and 84% report that they help them stay active. This is not a frivolous consideration, it is a health and wellness issue that should be seriously factored into the search.
If it turns out that pet-friendliness is non-negotiable for your parent, honor that and don’t try to quietly cross off communities that do not allow their type of animal.
Know the difference between service animals and emotional support animals
Service animals are considered medical equipment and are protected under the Fair Housing Act. This means that communities cannot refuse them or charge pet fees for them, however, emotional support animals and pets in general are not covered under the FHA, meaning that each community can set their own guidelines and fees for these animals
This means it is crucial to ask exactly what a community allows and if any of their policies would be an issue for you and your animal companion. It is also important to ask about deposits, monthly pet fees, breed restrictions and weight limits if they have any
Many communities only allow dogs up to 25 or 30 pounds so if your 50 pound dog is your world, you will want to know that before touring.
Create a checklist that goes beyond yes and no
While it is important to know if pets are allowed, that is just the beginning. Ask about how far they are willing to walk your dog and whether they have access to any pet walking services if your parent’s activities of daily living begin to change as they age, or if they require more assistance with their own walking, bathing, etc. Ask about emergency plans for their pets if your parent is hospitalized or passes away unexpectedly. And ask if the pet is considered part of the family in terms of evacuations or fires and if they have any kind of emergency plan in place. You want to find a community that goes beyond just allowing pets to one that considers them family.
Let your parent lead when touring communities
Give them your checklist to review before touring and encourage them to ask the questions rather than you. Set up tours around their schedule rather than yours by asking to see the community at a time that works best for them. The goal is for your parent to feel empowered and like this is their choice, rather than a difficult task that they are just getting through.
Hire a local expert to do leg work for you
This is often where families stumble, especially when it comes to asking the right questions to staff. It can be exhausting to call 15 different communities and be placed on hold when asking about your pet deposit or then be told that the person who knows about deposits is not available when you call back. It also puts pressure on the parent to stop trying to schedule tours if they are put on hold by the community administrator.
Searching for a certified senior care advisor minnesota can help families find someone who can do the legwork and pre-screen communities based on their preferences, including asking about deposits and fees so that they are only touring communities that meet their needs. This makes the process much easier for everyone involved and much less stressful. Families looking for a pet-friendly senior living option in Minnesota may also wish to contact the Senior LinkAge Line as an additional resource.
Prepare for the transition for both of them
This is where a little extra legwork can go a long way. If allowed by the community, visit a few times with your pet before you move in if possible or bring along pet bedding, toys, food dishes and anything else that will make the transition easier. Ask whether staff have received any specific training for working with animals, so that they know your parent’s dog by name and what their routine is when they arrive. A pet who is not comfortable in their new environment can cause a lot of stress for your parent and lead them to reevaluate a community that is actually a good fit just because they did not consider how their dog would adjust.
Keeping your parent engaged and in control of this process is not only important for their well-being, but for the success of their move. Remember, it’s their home, their life, and ultimately their choice. The parent who selects the community, asks the questions, and makes the adjustments will always be more confident in their decision and have the best chance of thriving in their new environment.
