Pet Friendly Senior Living in Bakersfield: What to Expect
We all feel better when we have our favorite furry friend with us. According to the National Poll on Healthy Aging, more than half of all people above the age of 60 have at least one pet. But finding pet friendly senior living can sometimes pose a challenge.
Bakersfield is a great place to live if you have pets. With plenty of room to roam, a diverse climate, and plenty of pet owners, you have the resources you need to make your pets comfortable.
But how can pets and seniors find dog-friendly apartments to provide lodging? If you're curious about aging with animals, we're here to help. Read on to learn more about pet friendly senior living.
Pet Friendly Senior Living: The Benefits
To start, why would someone want to seek pet friendly senior living? There are countless benefits to having pets, but we've chosen a few to narrow down on.
Whether you're a senior trying to decide what to do with your pet or someone still considering finding one, there are tons of benefits. Here are our four favorite benefits of life with pets.
1. Companionship
The first and most obvious reason to have a pet is companionship. Pets of all types are ideal for battling loneliness.
Studies show that one of the most intense challenges seniors face today is the challenge of loneliness. According to Michigan Medicine, about 1 in every 3 older adults battles feelings of loneliness.
A pet is a live-in companion that can ensure you're never alone. Some of them are exceptionally low maintenance, such as fish or reptiles. Others are moderate maintenance but generally independent, such as the average cat.
Dog-friendly apartments are typically in demand as well. Dogs provide a sturdy companion who can also be trained to help with some minor tasks. Pets and seniors living together not only helps battle loneliness, but also can have a good utilitarian use!
2. Housing Emotional Support Pets
Speaking of being useful, have you considered an emotional support pet? Many people feel that emotional support pets become more and more useful as you age. According to ESAPet.com, about 200,000 emotional support animals are registered today.
Emotional support pets help you with battling loneliness, but they also provide relaxation. Many emotional support pets are dogs that are great for keeping you comfortable mentally and emotionally.
Service animals and emotional support pets often have allowances in certain Bakersfield senior housing communities. Here at Columbus Estates, we're proud to offer pet-friendly housing for your service animal, emotional support animal, and your best friend. Browse our pet-friendly suites to see which best matches you and your best friend's needs!
3. Socialization
Loneliness is one thing your pet can help you with, but make no mistake: they're helping in more ways than keeping you company themselves! Pets are an excellent reason to socialize, network, and meet your neighbors.
Bakersfield is rich with walking trails and natural places to take your pet on an afternoon walk. These are ideal opportunities to meet others and enjoy the time with them while also enriching your day with some exercise.
If you deal with challenges with mobility, it's also a perfect time to reach out for support. There are plenty of dogwalkers and pet-sitters that are happy to take their time to meet you and your pet to organize a time of care. These individuals:
- Are often experienced with pets and know how to handle situations that may arise
- Are often young and looking for ways to help their community
- Are eager to engage with pet owners
- Will help you with the more difficult parts of pet ownership
Between meeting new pet professionals and networking with other pet owners, your loneliness won't stand a chance!
4. Exercise
Finally, exercise is one of the best benefits of dog-friendly housing. Your pet will need someone to help them with daily tasks, after all.
For dog-owners, taking the time to walk and care for your dog will help you get the cardio you need. That's vital for our later years where cardio is crucial to our health.
Other pets still will help encourage exercise. Carrying bags of cat food, cleaning out bird cages, and other such tasks all will help encourage a healthy lifestyle.
What Makes Dog-Friendly Apartments?
With all this covered, what makes an apartment dog-friendly or pet-friendly? Here are some of the traits to keep in mind.
Flooring Choices
One of the first things you'll notice in many pet-friendly areas is what flooring is used. Typically, hardwood and tile are more common.
That's because these sorts of floorings don't soak in liquids. If your pet has an accident, it's much easier to clean it up from hardwood than a soft carpet.
Our pet-friendly suites use a variety of floorings. Browse our gallery today to see what our suites offer so you know what you and your pet will have at your disposal.
Easy-to-Clean Furniture
Another thing that helps make apartments friendly to pets is the furniture choices. Most pets, like dogs and cats, are going to spend time on your furniture. Whether it's to cuddle up with you at night or to lay their heads in your lap on the sofa, you can expect some pet hair!
Furniture that's easier to clean will help stop that hair from getting out of hand. These are also great for battling spills or the daily dirt of any pet.
Glass and ceramic is also often avoided for these reasons. It's much better to avoid breakable items in case your pup gets the zoomies.
Living Life with Pets
Pet friendly senior living is crucial to enjoying your golden years to their fullest. Consider the many benefits of a pet, from exercise to socialization with your peers. Understand what makes pet-friendly apartments pet-friendly and seek them out for your comfort.
At Columbus Estates, we're proud to offer you and your pet the lodging you deserve. Whether you're with us to enjoy our relaxing libraries, our three chef-prepared meals a day, or to lounge in your pet-friendly apartments with your best friend, we're proud to have you. Reach out today to see how we can give you and your pet the best lives.