Many senior communities pride themselves on welcoming new residents, but these days, they must roll out the red carpet for another group as well: the furry friends of those residents.
We’ve found through our own research that pets are extremely important to the next generation of retirees. As more and more Boomers turn 65, that trend is only expected to grow. Some communities already go beyond standard pet-friendly policies to offer added services catering to four-legged residents.
Pet-focused programs can also be offered in different forms at different care levels so that residents can continue to reap the important health benefits of interactions with animals as they age.
Here are ten pet-focused services communities may want to consider offering if they aren’t already:
- Dog park
- Yappy hour (residents bring pets to socialize during happy hour)
- Pet-related merchandise in the community gift shop
- Pet care program (walking, feeding, litter-changing, playful exercise, medication administration, etc.)
- Pet salon or mobile grooming
- Vet house calls
- Day care or boarding for pets
- Community dogs and cats
- Pet therapy
- Pet-oriented events like celebrations and adoption fairs
Marketing Insight:
As animal-loving Boomers enter the senior living market in droves, it’s time to fully capitalize on the health and financial benefits of providing their pets with creature comforts.
