For many people, pets are family. Having to give up a pet therefore makes the transition to an assisted living care facility painful and lonely. Many residents may wish to bring pets with them, which provides numerous mental and physical health benefits – but there are also liability issues to consider before you allow pets at your assisted living facility.
The Advantages of Allowing Pets
We’ve covered before how animals may be beneficial for senior residents. Research published in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes shows that dog ownership is associated with decreased risk of cardiovascular disease. Pet ownership has also been linked to improved mental health. According to the American Heart Association, people aged 50 and above report less stress, a better sense of purpose, and more social connection as a result of owning pets.
It makes sense: when you own a dog, you need to walk it, which encourages people to exercise. Even caring for another type of pet (such as a cat) requires you to get up and move around. Pets also provide a great icebreaker, which helps residents form social connections. When you add in the unconditional love and companionship that pets provide, it’s no wonder they’re associated with improved well-being.
There’s also a business case for allowing pets. According to Pew Research Center, 62% of Americans own at least one pet and 97% of U.S. pet owners say their pets are part of their family. For 51% of pet owners, pets are considered as much a part of their family as a human member.
Many seniors want to age in place and resist moving into a senior living facility. In some cases, pets may be part of the reason. If seniors can keep their pets, they may be more interested in moving into a residential care facility. If your facility allows pets, you may be popular with seniors who love their pets.
The Liability Exposures Associated with Pets
Although pets bring many benefits, they also bring liability exposures.
Dog bites are often serious, sometimes requiring reconstructive surgery and occasionally even resulting in death. According to DogsBite.org, approximately 12,480 people are hospitalized every year due to dog bite injuries.
Allergies are another concern. One resident may love his cat, but if his neighbor is allergic to cats, this could be an issue, especially if the cat is allowed in shared spaces. The resident may suffer breathing problems or may take allergy medication that causes drowsiness or interacts with the other medications she is taking.
Pets may also cause unsanitary or unsafe living conditions. They may bring fleas inside, make messes or smells in shared areas, leave puddles that become slipping hazards, create tripping hazards, and cause other challenges.
Risk Management Considerations
Below are a few key considerations as you establish or refine your pet policies and protocols.
- Restrict which pets you allow. For example, some places don’t allow breeds associated with aggression. Another tactic is to place limits on the size and number of pets. Also, consider whether you’ll allow residents to bring pets other than cats and dogs. You may decide to require a pet assessment to make sure each individual pet is not aggressive.
- Only allow pets in certain areas. Neighbors of pet owners may not want pets in shared indoor spaces, especially residents who have allergies.
- Establish written requirements. If you decide to allow pets, it’s important to have written rules and requirements. These rules should outline exactly what residents need to do to keep pets on the premises, such as in terms of training, grooming, waste disposal, vaccinations, and veterinary care. Residents should sign the rules to show they understand them. The rules should be consistently enforced.
- Implement pet care protocols. If your team will help care for residents’ pets, daily protocols and employee education are essential.
- Document everything. Consider using checklists to record the daily care provided and carefully document and respond to any incidents that arise. For example, if a resident is bitten, how should your team respond?
- Find other ways to incorporate pets. For residents who can’t meet the requirements to keep a pet, you may be able to find other ways to give them the benefits of being around animals. For example, you could invite organizations that train service animals or therapy pets to visit your facility each quarter.
- Know the liability insurance implications. If you decide to allow pets at your facility, talk to your agent and make sure you have sufficient insurance coverage for potential liability exposures, including bites.
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