Assisted Living With Pets in Raleigh, NC: What to Expect
In Raleigh's green North Hills district, minutes from Millbrook Exchange Park, you can find TerraBella's Northridge, a community that espouses assisted living with pets for the betterment of its residents. Within these walls, cats and dogs, as well as several other pets, can move into the community after a brief health screening, where those aging with pets gain a new source of companionship.
Read on to discover how these emotional support animals support the daily activities of our residents and learn how Wake County supports us in making pet ownership straightforward for all. Discover what everyday wellness feels like for residents in our community and how we leverage pet-friendly senior living in Raleigh.
Assisted Living With Pets at TerraBella Northridge
Our assisted living community welcomes well-behaved cats and dogs, especially since they can offer significant support to our residents. Our staff are also trained to handle both pets and their owners, assisting with many daily tasks that residents may not be able to manage on their own.
We have also built specific communities for our residents, keeping much of the pet activity our residents engage in close to our community and reducing the risk of falls or trips for residents in their later years of retirement.
We find that these policies and support methods help alleviate the difficulties our residents face with loneliness by enabling them to make friends with others in our community through activities and events, and by offering a friendly face in their apartments as well.
Pet Requirements in Our Community
To ensure that we can offer the best-quality support to residents with pets, we require that pet owners take responsibility for their pets at all times. To this extent, we will discuss the pet's needs when they first move in to ensure that your loved one is capable of doing so.
A resident also needs to ensure that pets in memory care have already received vaccinations and appropriate examinations, depending on the specific animal. These are imperative to ensure the safety of all members of our community.
For more information on our breed and size guidelines, please contact our staff, and they will be happy to provide the details. We occasionally update these, so it may be worth asking about the latest facts.
Ultimately, residents will be responsible for matters such as vaccinations and leash usage in our community. Still, our staff can help with some of these when we are aware that a resident has trouble remembering dates or contacting animal clinics.
Prepare Your Pet for Move-In Day
We are aware that dog and cat ownership is linked to a slower decline in cognition among senior retirees, and we want to help those in our care take every step to have a positive experience with their pets. So, when a person first moves in, our onboarding process will ensure that both the resident and their companion receive the help they need to integrate themselves into the community.
After discussing the pet's health records, we will check that a resident has everything they need on them to look after a pet, such as:
- Bedding
- Food
- Litter for cats
- Toys and enrichment
- Medications
We will then allow residents and their pets to explore our community, learning about the sights and smells of the entire area. New residents should do this several times over the first week to get their companions used to the community and avoid long-term difficulties.
Our staff will also introduce residents to the amenities we offer to support our pet-owning residents, such as scenic walking paths along with benches that allow for rest breaks for older pet owners. If possible, new residents should take advantage of the evening to explore this area with their pet, especially when it gets darker, in case they need to handle late-night pet bathroom breaks. Fortunately, our outdoor lighting makes these trips safe for both the pet and the owner.
Staff can also discuss the etiquette for handling waste during an outdoor trip to avoid morning embarrassment.
Residents can also spend this first week getting to know other pet-owning residents. Through them, they can learn the ins and outs of looking after pets in senior life that only those with companions would know, as well as make new friends.
Explore Local Pet-Friendly Perks
When visiting your loved one, consider taking the opportunity to explore local pet-friendly communities, allowing the person you're visiting to escape their regular surroundings. Luckily, there are several off-site options nearby that can provide them with an opportunity to take their pet along as well.
Millbrook Exchange Dog Park
As Raleigh's oldest dog park, this large, open area allows dogs to roam freely off-leash. Both large and small dogs are welcome, providing your loved ones with an opportunity to socialize with other pet owners and make friends outside of our dog-friendly assisted living community.
The local picnic tables and benches also allow your loved one to take a moment to rest, letting them have a break in the shade while their pet uses the local agility equipment to the best of their ability.
Woof Gang Bakery
If you want to combine a little pet pampering with a chat over a coffee and cake, you can take your loved one to Woof Gang Bakery and Grooming. The groomers here are well-trained in caring for pets, ensuring that they come out washed, preened, and looking more beautiful than ever.
While your loved one relaxes as their pet is cared for, take them to a local cafe for a drink and a snack. Then, when you return, buy a small, oven-baked goody for their pet too.
Give Your Loved One the Companionship They Desire
The pet-friendly senior living experience at TerraBella Northridge ensures that our residents can both care for their pets and enjoy their retirement years with contentment. Our indoor and outdoor areas both make assisted living with pets the highlight of late retirement.
If you would like to learn more about our rates and what our community can do for your loved one, schedule a tour and take a look around with our staff. We can assure you that you'll be impressed.