Aging Well With Pets

Blog Category: Lifestyle

Do you have a pet you love dearly? Or have you wanted to find an animal companion but worry about how to include them in your new move during retirement? A lot of joy comes with having a pet as you age, and there are easy steps you can take to moving with them and incorporating them into your life after retiring.

The Benefits of Having a Pet

If you’ve been thinking of getting a pet or wondering if you should continue having one as your level of care shifts, consider these benefits of having a pet in your life:

  • Decreases symptoms of depression, stress, anxiety, and PTSD
  • Encourages regular exercise, structure, routine, and activity
  • Lowers your chances of having a stroke or heart attack
  • Provides companionship and helps you venture out and meet new people
  • May double as service animals that provide sensory stress relief

Tips for Moving With Your Pet

If you have an upcoming move, you’ll want the transition to be as smooth as possible–for you and your little companion. Here are some things to keep in mind when moving to your new home with your pet:

1. Packing and Planning for the Move

Your pet may feel a difference in your current home by the way you’re frequently getting tasks done up until the move. Practice the following to make them feel more at ease:

  • Maintain as much of your pet’s routine as possible, such as when you go on walks together and have meals.
  • If practical, pack your pet’s favorite room last to reduce stress and change.
  • Let cats get used to the cat carrier by leaving the carrier out with the door open and a comfy bed or blankets inside. Occasionally, leave a couple of treats in it so your cat knows the carrier is not a punishment. You may even start feeding your cat in the carrier.
  • Place moving boxes around the house a couple of weeks before you start packing so your pet is used to them being in the house.
  • Keep nervous pets in a quiet room while you make commotion packing.
  • Talk to your vet about anti-anxiety medication if your pet is skittish.

2. Moving Day

This is a busy day for everyone and can be especially unsettling for your pet. With strangers coming and going, your pet may have trouble keeping up with where you are and where they should be. Ease their stress by:

  • Taking your pet to a family/friend’s home while the movers work.
  • Making frequent stops for bathroom breaks, stretches, and quick walks if your new home is a long drive away.
  • Transporting your cat in a carrier designed for trips to keep everyone in the car safe.

3. Settling Into Your Home

Your pet will need to get acclimated to their new space. They’ll settle into your new home better if you:

  • Stay as close as possible to your previous routine from your old home.
  • Don’t wash the pet bed or blankets just yet. The familiar scent will help soothe and comfort your pet and can help them feel more at home in the new space.
  • Set up their food and water dishes, litter box, and bed before letting them out of the carrier into your new home.
  • Place treats in rooms to encourage cats to explore. Take longer and more frequent walks with dogs to give them plenty of time to explore their new outdoor space.

You’ll also want to update your pet tags with your new address, find a local veterinarian, and investigate the leash laws in your new community.

How to Care for a Pet in a Senior Living Community

If your new home is in a senior living community, there are various things to consider when integrating your pet in the new place. The community should:

  • Be service animal or pet-friendly and have clear policies about pet ownership, size and breed restrictions, and additional fees or deposits.
  • Have ample walking paths, outdoor spaces, and designated pet areas.
  • Be within distance of veterinarians and services, such as pet grooming.

If your community meets these needs, here are some steps to best care for your pet in senior living:

  • Map out the nearest veterinary clinics and animal hospitals and buy insurance.
  • Choose furniture pieces that double as storage for pet supplies, rugs made of synthetic fibers for easy cleaning, and wall hooks to hold pet accessories such as leashes.
  • Be patient and let your pet explore and sniff around your home or hide for as long as they want until they’re comfortable.
  • Socialize and train your pet to feel comfortable in a community setting and avoid behavioral problems.
  • Establish a routine that works for you and your pet, as animals are creatures of habit and like stability.
  • Create a plan for pet care in the event you are ill, hospitalized, or traveling.
  • Show your pet lots of love, and let the community love them as much as you!

Harness the power of choice with our free ebook, Moving to a Senior Living Community: Make Decisions Your Way. 

At Life Enriching Communities (LEC), we’re committed to ensuring patrons feel well-equipped to plan their future and age how they wish. Explore more resources on senior living or contact us today to learn more about our legacy of services and programs that bring meaning and purpose to every stage of life.