Are Pets Allowed  in Memory Care?

Recently I toured with a client to understand the best memory care options.  I had recently told them that typically a pet wasn’t allowed in memory care.  In my years of  experience I had found that to be the case.   And to my surprise, both options we toured allowed pets in their memory care!  If the pet needed to be cared for they would charge a fee to care for the pet.

Pets Are Important to Good Health

Research tells us that pets are good for your heatlth for a number reasons.  Therefore, it makes good sense that pets would be allowed in senior living.   In most options, whether independent living or assisted living, pets are allowed as long as the resident is able to care for them.   Of course, they do expect pets to be well behaved, dogs being the pet referred to.   And most options have a weight limit for dogs of 20-30 pounds.

Cats are easier to care for of course.  Typically there is a 2 cat limit.  Having more than that makes a search pretty difficult but not necessarily impossible.

The majority of options today charge an up front deposit for a pet.  A pet deposit may be $200 up to $500 being the most common.   If two pets, double the pet deposit.  A few options charge a monthly pet fee which is the case in many all age apartment buildings today.

There are still some options that do not accept pets but they are the minority!