51% of pet owners say that their animal companions are just as much their family as relatives are.
This Pew Research report makes sense since animals are our steadiest, most loving companions. However, considering pets family can make transitioning to senior living more challenging for older adults. After all, no one wants to leave family behind!
Luckily, assisted living with pets is 100% possible in Biloxi, MS. Read on to learn all about pet-friendly assisted living communities and how they enhance senior companionship for residents.
What to Expect in Pet-Friendly Assisted Living
Personal wellness for residents is the cornerstone of assisted living. The top Biloxi senior living community offers personally-tailored care plans to each resident. Whether you’re in assisted living or memory care, compassionate experts will come up with a care plan that meets your individual needs.
This helps seniors maintain their hygiene and feel great each day. It also enhances mobility and cognition.
When someone feels unwell or struggles with daily life, it’s difficult to care for a pet. That’s why support is so important in assisted living with pets. Adequate assistance can:
- Improve seniors’ energy levels, which allows them to walk dogs and play with cats
- Increase motivation to engage with daily life, making it easier to connect with beloved pets
- Mitigate physical limitations like fatigue and joint pain, which make it challenging to keep up with animals
- Enhance long-term mobility to make pet care tasks (feeding, cleaning litter boxes, dog-walking) easier
- Improve cognitive function and mental health so residents can manage pet ownership responsibilities
Comfortable Apartments for Aging With Pets
SummerHouse Bay Cove enhances the Biloxi senior lifestyle with multiple apartment floor plans. There are several different apartment size options ranging from 350 square feet to 1,018 square feet.
The ability to choose a larger floor plan can be a saving grace for senior pet owners. After all, animals in a larger apartment will have more room to run and jump. There will be more hiding and sleeping areas for comfort, too.
Beyond size-related benefits, our Mississippi apartments have various features to keep pets comfortable and safe. In-room temperature control prevents them from overheating and becoming heat sick. This means that cats and dogs feel as great as their owners even in the hot summer months.
Carpeted flooring is also comfortable on little paws. Animals won’t experience as much joint pain, and arthritic older pets can stay in good shape for the rest of their lives.
Plus, our apartments have large windows that have been treated for health and safety. These give cats a spot to indulge their predator instincts by watching birds and squirrels outdoors.
Community Amenities for Animal Support
Pet-friendly assisted living and memory care doesn’t stop and end within well-appointed apartments. Senior companionship from beloved animals also extends to:
- Landscaped outdoor relaxation areas and patios, which are perfect for pets to catch some Zs while residents catch up with each other
- Paved walking paths on community grounds, ideal for dog owners looking to get their furry friends some exercise
- Designated indoor areas for animals and their human caregivers to relax and unwind
These community amenities let pet owners rest assured that their beloved animal companions have a happy, fulfilling lifestyle.
The Benefits of Assisted Living With Pets in Mississippi
According to current research from the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI):
- 76% of people agree that interacting with animals can decrease social isolation, a major risk factor for senior loneliness
- 85% of people say that interacting with pets can make people less lonely
- 80% of pet owners say that their cat or dog makes them less lonely
This is especially important for older Americans. After all, one in every three seniors experiences social isolation and loneliness.
Animals offer their owners steady love and support. Cats and dogs are loyal to those who care for them, and owners can rest assured that they have a lifelong companion. They’ll never grow apart.
Some older adults also treat their pets as confidants. This emotional outlet is similar to journaling in that seniors share their deepest thoughts and feelings openly and honestly. Cats and dogs are silent confidantes that keep secrets and retain privacy.
More Human Connection With Other Residents
The same HABRI reports note that 54% of pet owners cite their animals as helping them connect with other people.
This isn’t just because pets make seniors feel happier and more sociable. It’s also because animals give residents more reasons to form connections in a Biloxi assisted living community.
For example, two dog owners might take their dogs for walks together each day. This gives them a reason to see each other regularly. Since they will also both have dogs and love them, they have something in common to bond over.
Decreased Stress: Mental Health Benefits
Interacting with animals has also been shown to decrease stress and anxiety. This is because those who interact with cats and dogs have lower cortisol levels.
This stress hormone is responsible for a lot of pain in seniors, so pets can nip serious mental health problems in the bud!
Pets also get their owners on a schedule. They need to be fed at consistent times and require regular interaction.
This helps seniors get into a routine so that they can feel a sense of control over their lives. This can reduce uncertainty and the anxiety that it naturally causes!
Spending time with pets can also lower blood pressure. Cat purrs have anti-inflammatory properties that reduce joint and bone pain, too.
Staving off chronic health conditions boosts holistic wellness, so seniors can enjoy their golden years as much as possible!
Increase Comfort and Joy in Pet-Friendly Assisted Living
Assisted living with pets in Biloxi, MS, has a wide range of benefits. Community care and amenities also make it easy to age with beloved animals at SummerHouse Bay Cove.
Seeing our amenities and interacting with the animals who live here is the best way to feel confident when transitioning to our community.
Contact us and schedule a senior living tour to learn more about assisted living and memory care with animal companions!
