My dad moved to assisted living in July and brought his cat. He went into the hospital a couple months later then to a transitional care unit, where he is at currently. My dad has dementia and tried walking out of the facility so they put a tracker on his wrist. Now assisted living is forcing us to move him downstairs to memory care, which doesn’t allow pets. I was unaware of this when I found this place as I thought the whole facility accepted them. My dad does feed his cat and I empty the litter box.
I’m leaning towards looking for a memory care that accepts pets. Thoughts?💭
What advantage would you have if you were to stay with his current facility? Are you losing out on anything important if you leave?
If you feel like your dad’s cat means the world to him and there is no disadvantage to living elsewhere then go with that.
Best wishes to you and your dad.
IF his quality of life is fairly positive for ADLs AND taking care of the cat, I’d try to find a residence near me where Dad and the cat could continue living together.
I think MC facility management and staff don't wish to spend time worrying about, caring for and chasing people's pets. They can't rely on family who "promise" to take care of them for the residents. Also, liability issues galor.
I wouldn't put my LO in a MC facility that allowed residents to have pets. First off: some people have pretty severe cat allergies. Cat dander is so fine that it literally never comes out of the carpet now matter how much you clean it (been there, done that with a son with asthma-triggered cat allergy).
Second, not all pets love other people. My Aunt's *own cat* had scratched or bit her behind her leg. She never told anyone because she was worried we'd get rid of the cat (she was in her own home, so not true). Because she couldn't feel it, see it or reach it to tend to it (she was 103 at the time), it caused a septic infection and landed her in the hospital (even though she had a family caregiver for 8 hours every day). It also cause a neurological problem for her vision for several weeks after.
Imagine if all the MC residents had pets: noises, smells, escapes, tripping over them... how would the pets be kept in the residents' rooms when they have impaired memory?
Maybe those places do exist but please be aware that your Dad's own cat has the potential to cause him problems, as was experienced in our family.
I certainly hope something similar could be found for your dad. If not, would one of those lifelike pet stuffed animals that purr, etc. possibly be of comfort to him?
Do check to see what is available. I am so sorry. This would be a terrible and heartbreaking loss. I wish you the best of luck.
I guess u will have to find another AL/MC that will take the cat.
Pets are not allowed in Memory Care Assisted Living facilities bc these elders are already in dire straits.