The most important question you should ask before moving into Spring, TX retirement communities as a pet owner is whether it is possible to move in with your animal companion. It is without a doubt that pets are the ultimate companions.
Their loyalty is unwavering, and their company is guaranteed. Therefore, it can be traumatizing to part ways with your favorite pet. Worse still, if older adults cannot find pet-friendly retirement communities, the pets will be left behind with no one to look after them. That is just cruel.
On the bright side, several retirement homes in Texas allow older adults to move in with their furry friends. Even so, there are common rules that apply to most communities concerning pets, as highlighted below.
Keep Your Pet Clean
If you are to live alongside your pet in a retirement home, you will be required to keep it clean and tidy at all times. The retirement community is supposed to be a clean and tranquil place that enables the elderly to socialize and enjoy their golden years. As such, nobody wants to bump into a smelly pooch on their way to the gym. Thus, you should regularly bathe your pet, trim its nails and perform other crucial maintenance practices.
Maintain Regular Hand Hygiene
It is vital to maintain high standards and hand hygiene, especially if your will be handling your pet regularly. The purpose of doing that is to avoid spreading infection from the pet’s body to humans in the retirement home.
Doing so will go a long way in keeping other residents out of danger of infection, considering that their immunity is relatively weak from old age. Therefore, remember to clean your hands before and after coming into contact with your pet.
Leash Your Pet during Visitation
Another important rule you must adhere to when keeping pets in retirement homes is to keep them leashed in the event of visitations. The purpose of this rule is to consider anyone that may be allergic to the kind of pet you possess.
Not everyone may necessarily like the kind of furry companion you keep. Some people experience allergic reactions to dog or cat fur. Thus, it would be best if you were considerate of that. Likewise, your pet is likely to act out after seeing a familiar person hence stirring drama that is not needed in the quiet and serene environment of a senior living community.
Keep Pets Out of Restricted Areas
Another key to living with your pet peacefully in retirement homes is to stick to provided regulations about restricted areas. Of course, every community will provide different restrictions about your pet’s room accessibility. In most cases, pets are not allowed in storage areas, dining rooms and kitchen areas.
Avoid Noisy Pets
The biggest drawback of having pets in retirement homes is the noise they might produce. Some pets tend to be super noisy. Such pets may not be ideal for such an environment. You should choose a pet that is not noisy such as cats, hamsters, guinea pigs and certain types of dogs, to avoid receiving a noise complaint. You should not enjoy your animal companion at the expense of the quiet or tranquility of other residents.
Bottom Line
There are retirement communities that allow you to live with your furry companion. Even so, it is crucial to stick to the provided rules about keeping pets to avoid inconveniencing other residents during their stay.
