As the owner or manager of a Residential Care Facility for the Elderly (RCFE), you’re continually on the hunt for ways to improve the quality of life for your residents.
Not only does this benefit them directly, but it also helps your facility stand out from the competition. Plus, happier, healthier residents can be easier to care for. All told, your RCFE stands to gain a lot from investing in your residents’ wellbeing.
Pets can be a big help here.
The Therapeutic Benefits of Pets
Numerous studies link pet ownership with healthy aging. They show that owning a pet can mean increased physical activity, better cognitive health, and less loneliness, all while helping the individual build social capital.
In fact, research has connected pets to specific health gains, including:
- Lower blood pressure
- Lower cholesterol levels
- Lower triglyceride levels
- Better mental health with fewer symptoms of anxiety, depression, and other conditions
Ultimately, a large body of evidence points to positive physical and mental health outcomes for people — including the elderly — who own pets.
As a result, your facility may decide to let your residents bring their pets. While this can be an effective way to support their wellbeing and happiness, it also introduces some risk.
Fortunately, you can be proactive about managing it.
Protecting Against Risk
RCFE owners who allow pets should take two specific steps:
#1: Implement Pet-Friendly Policies
It’s important to have a set of guidelines that shape when pets can come to your facility, how they’re cared with while there, and how they interact with other residents. Some areas to consider when building your pet-friendly policy include:
- The types and sizes of pets
- The vetting process for intake, including evaluating the pet’s behavior and the resident’s relationship with them
- Care and grooming requirements for residents with pets
- Cleaning and sanitation procedures that apply to pet waste
- A required schedule for veterinary visits
- Pet-free zones for residents with allergies or who don’t like animals
- A warning and removal system for pets with behavior problems or residents who don’t meet care and sanitation guidelines
#2: Evaluate Your Insurance Coverage
To protect your facility if a pet-related incident arises, you need to ensure your liability insurance policy extends to your residents’ pets. Specifically, talk with your insurance agent to double-check that your coverage includes scratches, bites, or any other pet-caused incidents.
You can also talk with your insurance agent about steps you can take to potentially lower your premiums with strong pet policies. Enforcing regular veterinary visits, grooming, and vaccinations may all help, for example.
Ultimately, your agent can partner with you to ensure that if you decide to allow pets, your facility has the layer of protection it needs. Talking through the specifics of how many animals you plan to allow, what type, and your pet-friendly policy details can all help you get the proper coverage in place.
To talk with an expert in RCFE liability insurance, reach out to our team. You can contact us at (805) 413-5668 to get the insurance policy you need to support your pet-friendly facility — and the wellness boosts those pets deliver to your residents.
