Cricket and Skeeter are currently the top dogs at Quartet, A Senior Living Village, in north Bettendorf.
But new friends for the two canines would be welcomed at one of the most recent entries into the senior residential community market in the Quad Cities, reflecting a pet-friendly environment championed by such complexes here and nationwide.
As the number of senior communities grows to meet the demand of an aging population, companies are touting pet-friendly amenities in addition to their chef-prepared meals, happy hour get-togethers, well-equipped fitness centers and on-site activities. According to a 2019 article on Next Avenue, a PBS digital publication covering news for people over 50, roughly 75% of for-profit senior living residences accept pets.
For Pat Feahr, owner of Cricket, being able to have a dog at Quartet was essential to her moving there.
“It was a no-brainer because I would never go anywhere without her,” she said of the 2 ½-pound teacup poodle who usually can be found nestled in a cozy bag Ms. Feahr carries.
Resident Phyllis Neville owns the other dog living at Quartet, a silky-poo named Skeeter.
Skeeter’s pretty happy with his life there, she said, and enjoys eating, jumping up on the bed and running to the door when the doorbell rings. At 2 ½ years old, “he’s still quite a youngster,” she said.
Amy Gutknecht, senior living consultant at Quartet, said the current pet population in the building at 3150 Glenbrook Circle South, is two dogs and a cat. But as the community continues to welcome new residents, more pets are anticipated to arrive. Waiting for them is a dog park, which was built adjacent to the building.
“A lot of seniors, like all of us, have become very attached to our pets,” she said. “We don’t want them to have to separate from a pet just to join a community.”
Numerous studies point to the health benefits to seniors of pet ownership.
“On Healthy Aging,” a book published by the Mayo Clinic, notes that various studies have shown that living with and caring for a cherished animal can help a person cope with stress, lower their heart rate and blood pressure, help one live longer after a heart attack, improve mood and sense of well-being, reduce loneliness and help one become more active.
Nicole Ward, community relations coordinator at Grand Haven Retirement Community at 201 E. Franklin St. in Eldridge, sees those benefits up close.
“Personally, I just see smiles” when pets are around, she said. “I see pure enjoyment.”
While the resident’s pet population is low currently at Grand Haven (one cat), Ms. Ward brings her dog, Louie, to visit residents (including her grandmother, Donna Jehle) and they relish the opportunity to put him on their laps.
“Everyone knows Louie; he prances the hallways and visits the memory care unit,” she said.
Patrick McDonald, executive director and CEO of Ridgecrest Village in Davenport, said he sees evidence of the difference pets make among residents there “every single day.”
“We really want the transition to be as easy as possible here at Ridgecrest,” he said.
The expansive campus at 4130 Northwest Blvd., offers plenty of outdoor spaces for walking dogs, and lots of opportunities for residents to show off their pets.
“It’s a conversation piece when they’re out and about, and they interact with other people,” he said. “They talk about their dog, what kind it is and how long they’ve been here.”
Julie Arndt, Ridgecrest’s director of marketing, said from her experience working in the healthcare field, she has observed that pets “bring a calm in a storm sometimes when they (seniors) are going through stressful times.”
The pet population at Ridgecrest is currently three dogs and six cats.
Two of those dogs, Bruce (a Chihuahua-Miniature Pinscher mix) and Edna (a Miniature Pinscher), live with their owner, Alana Callender, in one of the independent living cottages on the Ridgecrest campus.
Ms. Callender, a longtime dog owner, said the ability to have a dog in her residence was one of the absolute criteria she had for a senior community. The other two “musts” were a garage and her own exterior door – offered at the Ridgecrest cottages.
Bruce and Edna, both rescue dogs, have made “people friends” throughout the cottage neighborhood, Ms. Callender said. And, she pays one of the residents who lives in the main building to dog-sit during her occasional travels.
Every Saturday, Ridgecrest has a pet training clinic offered by CM Academy of Dog Training of Walcott, Iowa. It’s entertaining for the residents and great training/interaction for the academy’s clients, Ridgecrest officials say.
There are currently almost 20 pets who live with residents at Overlook Village Senior Living, 941 6th St. in Moline, according to Becky Lee Hinton, executive director. Among them is Bogey, a parrot owned by Ms. Lee’s father, Bill Lee.
“I’m an animal lover and have been one my whole life,” she said. “I know firsthand that our fur babies are a part of our families.”
At Overlook, dog owners can purchase dog walks as an ancillary service, she said, and there is a dog run on the property that was built several years ago.
The community also has a resident therapy dog, Cheeto, who was a gift to Overlook as a memorial to a resident in memory care who passed away.
“What a wonderful, insightful gift for a memorial,” Ms. Lee said.
Cheeto is a Golden Retriever and has his own Instagram account, where people can keep track of his antics.
“His one job is to love everybody,” Ms. Lee said. “He just intuitively knows that people need a connection whether it’s an employee having a bad day or a resident who needs a little extra attention.”
Learn more about senior life in the Quad Cities through QCBJ’s most recent special section, Senior Living.
Policies on pets
While policies regarding pets in senior residential communities vary, these rules are fairly typical:
- There is a weight limit on dogs, generally around 25 to 30 pounds.
- The resident must be able to care for the pet, or have someone available who can.
- Shots and licenses must be up to date.
- A non-refundable security deposit is assessed.
- Birds must be caged.
- Pets are restricted to resident rooms and designated common areas.
- Pets must be spayed or neutered.
Many senior communities will post their pet policies on their websites.
