Bringing Your Pet With You Into Your Assisted Living Home
One
of the most difficult decisions a senior citizen must make is where to live
once they decide they can’t live alone in their current home. There are many
factors to consider, such as location and cost. They may also need to consider
finding a pet-friendly assisted living community so they can bring their furry
friends with them. More than half of people in the 50-80 age range have a pet,
so many assisted living facilities are now pet-friendly.
Disabled Person
works with employers who have a strong desire to hire qualified applicants with
diverse backgrounds. Here is some advice on how to find the perfect assisted
living home for you and your furry friend.
Getting Financially Ready
The
national median cost of assisted living is $4,500 per month, depending on location, services, room type, and amenities.
That’s a steep price for most senior citizens, so coming up with a plan to pay
for it is essential. Medicaid may cover the cost of some care services provided
in an assisted living community. They don’t, however, cover the cost of the
assisted living room and board.
Using
the money from the sale of your home to cover the costs is the first and most
frequently used option for most people. But before you sell your home, consider
what improvements you can make that will get you the most money from a sale.
Most
people expect a modern kitchen in any home they buy, and you’ll likely recoup
about 75% of your investment on a kitchen remodeling project. And you can save
even more by purchasing “open box” or returned appliances from large chain retailers like Best Buy. Curb appeal also increases value with a small investment
in time, like cleaning siding and planting some flowers or installing a new
front door.
Getting Your Pet Ready
How well-trained is your pet? Do they have a history of
biting or jumping on people? An aggressive or loud pet could lead to
complaints, fines, or eviction. Some good advice is to obtain a training
certification from Canine Good Citizen, proving your dog has been tested by a certified
professional. It
is a 10-skill test that teaches good manners to dogs and responsible dog
ownership to their owners.
Vaccinations must be up
to date with proof from a licensed veterinarian. Get your pet a thorough
check-up too. Your veterinarian may make specific preventive medicine
treatments such as vaccination, parasite control, and treatments
for fleas, ticks, intestinal parasites, and heartworm.
They can also advise you about nutrition, skin and coat care, joint health,
weight management, or dental care.
Purchasing a pet
insurance policy is highly advisable. You don’t want to add expensive
veterinarian visits on top of the cost of your new facility. When searching for
the most affordable and comprehensive plan, you can use this
option
to avoid having to do all the comparisons yourself. Plus, they offer reviews
and insights from professionals.
Reduce Your Stress
Pets like cats and dogs
are sensitive creatures, and they can sense when their human is stressed. The
way you react to their anxiety is how your pet will react to it, too. Humans
can cause stress in their pets by not giving them enough attention, not giving
them enough time to play, and by being too busy to spend time with them. The
same is true for pets - they can cause stress in their owners by barking too
much, chasing toys, or biting. And cats are
not immune, they can also sense and negatively react to their
owner’s anxiety. It is important to recognize
the signs of stress from your pet and take steps to
limit the effects on you and your pet.
Moving, although a
positive change for you and your pet, will almost certainly come with a bit of
anxiety for you both. By taking time to research the amenities in any facility
you’re looking at in terms of how your pet will be greeted, to preparing your
pet ahead of time with proper training and insurance coverage, the two of you
should be able to live a nice, relaxing, and positive life together.