With almost 90% of pet owners attributing improvements in their mental health to owning a pet, according to the International Human Animal Bond Survey, it is no wonder that pet-friendly assisted living is a popular option in retirement. However, if only there were a place for seniors to live that was built and run exactly with that purpose in mind.
It turns out that TerraBella Athens, TN, is situated in a beautiful area, just minutes from Athens Regional Park and Cherokee National Forest, allowing for the combination of true beauty and assisted living with pets in one community.
Read on to learn how we support aging individuals with pets, while ensuring a cat- and dog-friendly living environment for everyone in our senior community. Discover what pet-friendly assisted living and senior communities with animals look like today.
Our community provides a diverse range of amenities for individuals seeking support during their senior years. We offer:
Our staff ensures that residents receive the care they need and that seniors have access to everything they require to ensure comfort during their retirement.
Studies show that dog owners are over one-third more likely to walk for at least two and a half hours each week. For those in senior care, aging with pets can offer a significant amount of time spent being more active.
If your loved ones enjoy outdoor activities, then Athens Regional Park may be the perfect destination for you and them when you visit. The area features paved walking paths and picnic areas, making it ideal for a day out. If you bring a pet along, please take a leash and ensure that your pet is watched at all times.
Alternatively, spend time in historic downtown Athens and enjoy a sidewalk cafe with your loved one, but be sure to check which ones welcome animals before you do so.
Within our community, our assisted and independent living apartments include a kitchenette. The area is perfect for pet feeding stations that your loved one can top up as part of their daily meal routines.
The apartments are also ideal for pets, thanks to their open floor space, which provides dogs and cats with plenty of room to move around. Emotional support animals for seniors are also welcomed in the same way.
Memory care spaces, meanwhile, still have plenty of space, as well as bathrooms that pets can use as quiet spaces during noisy holidays, such as Independence Day, when one might expect to hear many fireworks.
Spacious closet space in all apartments also accommodates all items that a person might need to help look after a pet, including:
The floors of many of our apartments are also made from hardwood-style paneling. These prevent difficult stains or other issues caused by pet messes or muddy paw prints. Instead, they should be easier to wipe clean and resist color changes.
For those with cats, we even have lowered window sills. While these are designed to allow those in wheelchairs easier access to a view, they also enable cats and small dogs a safer and easier perch, offering them outdoor views they might not otherwise have.
Within each apartment and in many common areas, we utilize climate-controlled spaces to keep both humans and animals comfortable. Within private spaces, residents are also unable to take these climate control systems beyond specific safe parameters. In doing so, we prevent animals from encountering danger and instead ensure that residents can take better care of their companions.
Similar controls are also installed in our showers, where the temperature of the hot water is limited to a specific level. As such, pets and their owners should not become trapped in a space that could cause them harm.
During their initial intake, we will discuss the health needs of residents with them and any accompanying individuals. At the same time, we will work with them to ensure that they can either take care of their pets or that we understand the requirements of looking after a beloved companion.
During this time, we can determine the best time to offer things like medication to our residents, understanding that such a regular event can trigger a memory of feeding or exercising with a pet. As such, even seniors in memory care can have a better opportunity to recall what they need to do to care for their pets.
Over time, we will review this plan to ensure that pet care does not conflict with therapy sessions or social activities. Over time, we will want to ensure that a resident's calendar is seamless.
We may also discuss the plan with a resident's family members, ensuring that we do not overlook specific pet traditions or requirements that could cause significant challenges if missed.
While residents are ultimately responsible for the care of their pets, we recognize that certain realities of senior living necessitate our assistance. As such, when a resident begins engaging with memory care more, we are likely to check in to see if they need assistance with things like:
Staff can also assist residents who need help with specific pet issues, such as grooming or veterinary visits. While we cannot take complete care of a pet, we can help to set up pet-play sessions, potentially in groups if the extra engagement helps, to boost resident moods.
With the pet-friendly assisted living we provide in Athens, TN, we can ensure that both residents and their companions get the care they deserve. We can work with them to determine how their pet can be well cared for and take appropriate action to prevent further problems.
To learn more about our capabilities, get in contact and book a tour. We can then show you exactly how we can care for your loved one and ensure they are comfortable in our assisted living community.