Pets Are Welcome at Belmont Village Oak Park

Pets provide residents with comfort as they transition into a senior living community.

The Chicago Tribune recently featured one of Belmont Village Oak Park’s friendliest residents, Bailey the cat! Bailey and her owner, Jacqy Carnahan, live together in the community along with other residents who have furry companions.

Cats, dogs and other critters are welcome at retirement communities

Assisted living communities are less likely to allow pets, but some do. Jacqy Carnahan has a 30-pound cat, Bailey, named after Bailey’s Irish Cream because he’s the same color as the drink. They live together at Belmont Village Senior Living in Oak Park, an assisted living community.

Like a lot of pet owners, Carnahan wouldn’t have moved to Belmont Village without Bailey. “My daughter hunted for a place that would accept Bailey,” says Carnahan. “It was a deal breaker.”

Caily O’Donovan, executive director at Belmont Village in Oak Park, meets with residents and their families prior to move in. Pets need her approval.

“Moving to a senior living community is difficult enough without losing a companion pet,” says O’Donovan, who brings her own dog, Freddie, with her to work at the building on Thursdays. “Pets are so beneficial to the residents’ social and mental well being.”

Read the full article here.