For many older adults, a beloved dog or cat is part of the family. A pet can provide comfort, routine, and familiarity during a major life transition.
At The Kensington Redondo Beach, we understand why families want to know whether a loved one can move to assisted living with their pet.
Quick Answer
Yes, The Kensington Redondo Beach is a pet-friendly assisted living and memory care community. Because every resident and pet has different needs, families should speak with our team about current guidelines, veterinary records, fees, daily responsibilities, and backup care plans.
Ask our team about moving to assisted living with a pet.
What Does Pet-Friendly Assisted Living Mean?
Pet-friendly assisted living allows an approved resident to live with an approved pet in their suite.
However, policies vary among senior living communities. Being pet-friendly does not necessarily mean every animal is permitted or that feeding, walking, grooming, and cleanup are included.
An assisted living pet policy may cover:
- Permitted types of pets
- Size, age, or temperament guidelines
- The number of pets allowed
- Vaccination and veterinary records
- Pet deposits or monthly fees
- Daily care responsibilities
- Emergency and backup care arrangements
Pet approval may also depend on the resident’s suite, abilities, care plan, and the needs of the individual animal.
At The Kensington Redondo Beach, we welcome the opportunity to learn about the relationships and routines that matter to your family. That includes the important role a dog or cat may play in your loved one’s life.
Questions to Ask About an Assisted Living Pet Policy
A clear checklist can help your family compare pet-friendly senior living communities and avoid surprises before move-in.
Ask:
- Are dogs and cats allowed?
- Are there size, age, temperament, or other pet guidelines?
- Is there a limit on the number of pets?
- Are vaccination and veterinary records required?
- Does the community need to meet the pet before move-in?
- Is there a pet deposit or recurring fee?
- Who is responsible for feeding, walking, grooming, and cleanup?
- Is pet-care assistance available if a resident needs help?
- Can an outside dog walker, groomer, or pet-care provider visit?
- Are there appropriate outdoor areas or nearby walking routes?
- What is the procedure if a resident becomes ill or is hospitalized?
- What plan is needed if the resident can no longer care for the pet?
- Can the family consider the pet’s needs during a scheduled tour?
Policies and available support can change. Ask for the community’s current requirements and discuss your loved one’s specific pet.
Contact us to ask about our pet policy for residents.
What to Consider Before Moving With a Dog or Cat
Finding assisted living that allows pets is an important first step. The next step is deciding whether the arrangement will work well for your loved one, their pet, and the broader community.
Can Your Loved One Manage Daily Pet Care?
Consider whether your loved one can consistently:
- Prepare and serve food
- Refill water bowls
- Walk a dog safely
- Clean a litter box
- Keep track of pet medications
- Schedule veterinary appointments
- Notice changes in the pet’s health
- Handle a leash or carrier
- Store food and supplies safely
Needing some help does not automatically mean your loved one must give up a cherished pet. It does mean your family should understand which responsibilities belong to the resident and what support may be available.
Ask specifically about pet-care services rather than assuming that feeding, walking, or grooming is included.
Will the Pet Be Comfortable?
A move to senior living is also a change for the animal.
Consider the pet’s:
- Age and health
- Mobility
- Exercise needs
- Noise sensitivity
- Comfort around unfamiliar people
- Reaction to other animals
- Separation anxiety
- House training
- Ability to settle in a new environment
A quiet indoor cat may have very different needs from an energetic dog that requires several walks each day.
The best plan should protect the pet’s well-being while supporting the resident’s safety and comfort.
Is the Suite a Good Fit?
Think about where the following items will go:
- Food and water bowls
- A pet bed
- A litter box
- A crate or carrier
- Toys or scratching posts
- Leashes and grooming supplies
- Pet medications
Keep walking paths clear. Bowls, toys, and leashes should not create trip hazards.
Families can explore our suites and floor plans while considering their loved one’s lifestyle and the space their pet will need.
Who Will Provide Backup Care?
Choose a relative, friend, or trusted pet-care provider who can step in if your loved one:
- Becomes ill
- Is hospitalized
- Experiences reduced mobility
- Develops greater care needs
- Has difficulty remembering pet-care routines
- Can no longer care for the animal safely
Record that person’s contact information, the veterinarian’s details, and any instructions about medications, feeding, and emergency decisions.
Making this plan before move-in can protect both the resident and pet during an unexpected change.
Pet-Friendly Senior Living in Redondo Beach and the South Bay
Families often compare communities throughout the South Bay when looking for the right combination of personal support, location, lifestyle, and pet-friendly policies.
The Kensington Redondo Beach is located at:
801 S. Pacific Coast Highway
Redondo Beach, CA 90277
424-241-2064
Our Redondo Beach location may be convenient for families exploring pet-friendly senior living near:
- Torrance
- Manhattan Beach
- Hermosa Beach
- Palos Verdes
- El Segundo
When comparing locations, consider more than the distance from family members.
It may also help to look at access to:
- Your current veterinarian
- Emergency veterinary care
- A trusted dog walker or pet sitter
- Relatives who can provide backup support
- Appropriate walking routes
Located steps from the Pacific Ocean, The Kensington Redondo Beach serves families throughout Redondo Beach and the surrounding South Bay.
Learn more about our approach to assisted living in Redondo Beach.
Tips for Helping a Pet Adjust to Assisted Living
A thoughtful transition can help your loved one and their pet become comfortable in their new home.
1. Confirm the Current Pet Requirements
Review the community’s policy before finalizing the move.
Confirm any fees, veterinary records, behavior expectations, identification requirements, and emergency procedures.
2. Schedule a Veterinary Visit
Ask the veterinarian to:
- Update required vaccinations
- Review medications
- Provide current health records
- Check identification tags
- Confirm microchip information
- Address travel or moving concerns
3. Keep Familiar Routines
Try to maintain the pet’s usual:
- Feeding times
- Walking schedule
- Sleep routine
- Commands
- Treats
- Playtime
Predictability can help the new environment feel less unfamiliar.
4. Prepare the Suite Before the Pet Arrives
Set out familiar items such as:
- A favorite bed or blanket
- Food and water bowls
- Toys
- A scratching post
- A crate or carrier
- The pet’s usual food
Familiar scents and objects can make the new space feel more secure.
5. Arrange Supervision During Move-In
Moving day may involve open doors, unfamiliar people, and additional noise.
Ask a trusted family member or pet-care provider to supervise the animal until the suite is organized and secure.
6. Introduce the New Environment Gradually
Allow the pet to explore at a comfortable pace.
Begin with short walks along approved routes for a dog. For a cat, create a quiet retreat with familiar bedding, food, water, and a litter box.
7. Watch for Ongoing Signs of Stress
Temporary changes can occur after a move. Contact the pet’s veterinarian if changes in appetite, sleep, bathroom habits, vocalizing, or hiding continue or cause concern.
How Pets May Support Emotional Well-Being
A familiar pet may help preserve a sense of continuity during a move to assisted living.
For many older adults, a dog or cat can offer:
- Companionship
- A familiar daily rhythm
- A sense of purpose
- Comfort during quiet moments
- Motivation for gentle movement
- Opportunities for social connection
- A reassuring presence in a new home
The effect is personal. What matters most is whether the relationship remains safe, manageable, and rewarding for both the resident and pet.
Pet Therapy Versus Bringing a Personal Pet
Bringing a personal pet and participating in pet therapy are different experiences.
Living With a Personal Pet
A personal pet already knows your loved one’s voice, habits, and routine. That familiarity may help a new suite feel more like home.
The resident, family, or an approved support provider remains responsible for the animal’s daily care.
Participating in Pet Therapy or Animal Visits
Pet therapy and animal visits allow residents to enjoy time with animals without assuming full-time ownership responsibilities.
This may be a good alternative for someone who:
- Enjoys animals but cannot manage daily care
- Misses a former pet
- Prefers occasional animal interaction
- Needs a lower-responsibility form of companionship
Learn more about the benefits of pet therapy in senior living.
Planning for Changing Care Needs
A resident’s abilities may change over time. Mobility limitations, fatigue, vision changes, hospitalization, or memory loss can make pet care more difficult.
Families should periodically reassess whether the arrangement remains safe, comfortable, and manageable for both the resident and pet.
Reviewing the plan early can help families make thoughtful decisions without waiting for an urgent situation.
Assisted Living and Memory Care at The Kensington Redondo Beach
The Kensington Redondo Beach offers assisted living and a continuum of memory support within one community.
Our memory support includes:
The Kensington Club
The Kensington Club is for new and current assisted living residents experiencing mild changes in cognition.
Connections
Connections supports residents with mid-stage memory loss.
Haven
Haven supports residents with later-stage memory loss.
The Kensington Redondo Beach is also a Positive Approach to Care Designated Community. Our team members use this relationship-centered approach to support dignity, communication, and meaningful connection for those living with memory loss.
Families can learn more about our three levels of memory care and personalized memory care support.
A personal pet may not be appropriate in every memory care situation. Pet arrangements should be discussed individually based on the resident’s abilities, the animal’s temperament, the care environment, and the family’s support plan.
Why Families Choose The Kensington Redondo Beach
Choosing assisted living involves more than identifying care needs. Families are also thinking about the routines, relationships, and familiar comforts that help their loved one feel at home.
At The Kensington Redondo Beach, residents have access to:
- Personalized assisted living support
- A continuum of care as needs change
- Three levels of memory support
- Onsite clinical expertise
- Thoughtfully designed suites
- All-day dining
- Life enrichment opportunities
- A coastal Redondo Beach location
- A warm, family-centered culture
When a dog or cat is part of the family, our team wants to understand the animal’s routine, temperament, and daily needs as part of the conversation.
Our Promise is to love and care for your family as we do our own.
FAQs: Pet-Friendly Assisted Living
Many assisted living communities allow approved pets, particularly dogs and cats. Requirements may address the animal’s size, temperament, veterinary records, fees, and daily care. Always confirm the current policy before planning a move.
Yes. The Kensington Redondo Beach is a pet-friendly assisted living and memory care community. Contact our team to discuss your loved one, their pet, and our current guidelines.
A dog may be permitted when it meets the community’s current requirements. Consider the dog’s exercise needs, behavior, veterinary care, and walking routine. Your family should also identify someone who can provide backup care.
A cat may be a comfortable companion for an older adult, particularly when accustomed to indoor living. Plan for feeding, litter box care, veterinary appointments, suite setup, and emergency support.
Ask about permitted pets, veterinary records, fees, daily care responsibilities, available support, and what happens if the resident’s needs change.
A written backup plan should identify someone who can assist temporarily or assume responsibility if long-term needs change. Discuss this plan with the community before move-in.
Pet arrangements in memory care depend on the resident, pet, neighborhood, and care plan. Families can speak with our team about personal pet needs alongside The Kensington Club, Connections, and Haven.
A familiar pet may provide companionship, routine, comfort, and continuity during a move. The arrangement should remain safe and manageable for the resident, pet, and community.
Explore Pet-Friendly Assisted Living in Redondo Beach
Moving to assisted living does not always mean leaving a beloved dog or cat behind.
At The Kensington Redondo Beach, we welcome conversations about the relationships, routines, and pets that matter to your family.
Contact our team to ask about our current pet policy, explore available suites, and schedule a personal tour.
Contact The Kensington Redondo Beach. Get the care you or your loved one needs, with your best friend by your side.