Pet-Friendly Assisted Living in Morristown, TN: What to Expect
With the companionship of pets able to improve the mood and emotional health of older adults in Morristown, TN, TerraBella Morristown has every reason to make pet-friendly assisted living as welcoming as possible to animals like those your loved one adores. We have taken steps to ensure that we offer an assisted living space that supports aging with pets and welcomes emotional support animals for seniors. So, how do we do this?
Below, we discuss how our clear and simple pet policies can ensure that your loved ones can focus on bonding with their companions while also supporting the emotional and physical well-being of everyone in our care. Discover how assisted living with pets can lower stress, encourage more active lives for residents, and allow people to enjoy their retirement all the more.
Why Life in TerraBella Morristown Supports Pets
When we build apartments, we ensure that our residents can enjoy the company of their pets, so we include features that make them more comfortable.
For a start, our living areas are kept open and easy to move around in. This choice ensures that both wheelchairs and excited pets have plenty of space for movement. Curious cats and smaller dogs can also go exploring, making a space their own to relax in should the rest of the room become overwhelming, for example, when family visits.
Our single-floor design doesn't just ensure we can look after our residents, either. Pets have an easier time moving around, and minimal ramps are available, helping both people and animals avoid slips.
We also support the comfort of both residents and smaller pets with:
- Low beds
- Comfortable bedding
- Shared living space between owners and pets
- No-rim shower areas
Within our rooms and many common areas, we have also ensured the inclusion of hardwood-style floors. These ensure that any messes caused by pets are easily cleaned up, preventing the embarrassment of lingering stains. Dirty paws or accidents caused by an excited pet need no longer be an issue.
Residents' apartments also include plentiful closet space. Those in our care can use them to store pet food or other supplies, while pets can also use them on days when outdoor celebrations might get a bit loud, such as on New Year's or Independence Day, when fireworks are more likely to be lit.
Outdoor Common Areas for Pets and Owners
With the CDC recommending walking or playing with pets to lower blood pressure, we consider it a priority for our residents to take that to heart and move around more with their companions. As such, our central courtyards and enclosed spaces allow residents to move around freely without worrying about a pet escaping. Secure external areas also ensure that off-leash play won't lead to pets wandering beyond the community, and also help combine assisted living and pets safely.
In these courtyards, sitting areas offer our guests the opportunity to rest and socialize while watching their pets play. Often, this interaction can lead to people forming new bonds, not only with their pets but also with other residents who share a love of animals.
Inviting Shared Indoor Spaces
Our activity room and lounge areas enable people to participate in activities with other community members. Many of our activities will also allow them to bring their pets along, meaning they can support one another in the busy area.
Whether this means snuggling up on the plush armchairs by the baby grand piano in the activity room itself or taking the opportunity to share a story in another space, there is always somewhere to be.
Pet Policy and Fees
All of our apartments allow for pets, subject to the resident having appropriate documentation to meet local regulations. We are also selective about the breeds and sizes of pets that we allow. Please contact our staff for the latest information to avoid disappointment.
However, you can typically expect to require:
- Vaccination records
- Vet examination documents
- License information
- Pet identification documents
In the case of emotional support animals, depending on the law at the time of moving in, you may require a letter confirming that the pet is a registered emotional support animal and that your loved one requires its presence.
We will also interview both the resident and their pet to confirm their temperament for the safety of all our residents and staff. Afterwards, they can take a tour around our community to ensure their comfort with the space. We recommend that owners do this a few times after moving in, as well, to ensure they can navigate the community long-term.
Those moving in should also inquire about our current pet deposit, which we will use to cover any necessary cleanups that may be required due to accidents or other pet-related damage. However, residents will receive this back if it is not used during their stay.
Pet-Friendly Activities and Events
Dog-friendly senior living encourages owners to avoid sitting all day. As such, our activities include outdoor visits and exercise opportunities where pets can join their owners.
These activities include chair exercises, but residents and pets who wish to dance during music-based activities will receive encouragement from our staff. For those who want to go on the local Walmart Trip and require a service dog, we will help residents prepare themselves for the journey alongside their companion.
When loved ones visit, our residents may also take their dogs or other leashed pets outside with them, should they wish to go for a walk or travel for the day.
Pet-Friendly Assisted Living in TerraBella Morristown
Moving into a senior living location with a pet shouldn't be a burden. Here at TerraBella Morristown, we do everything possible to make it as easy as possible and enable our residents to navigate life's challenges. When living with us, your loved ones and our staff will work together to ensure that the companionship of their pet helps them acclimate.
To learn more about what we do and how we incorporate pet-friendly assisted living into our processes, get in touch. Book a tour and discover what we can do for your loved one today.