Pet Friendly Retirement Homes - Pets Welcome at Rangeford Villages

What are the benefits of having pets at a retirement village?

The UK loves its furry friends! According to a 2022 PDSA report, 52% of British adults now own a pet, with many having adopted a four-legged companion during the Covid-19 lockdowns. Pets can be a valuable source of comfort and can encourage their owners to keep active. These four-legged companions have a huge impact on both our physical and mental health, helping to get us up and out of the house and to battle loneliness which is especially crucial amongst the retirement community.

The UK loves its furry friends! According to a 2022 PDSA report, 52% of British adults now own a pet, with many having adopted a four-legged companion during the Covid-19 lockdowns. Pets can be a valuable source of comfort and can encourage their owners to keep active. These four-legged companions have a huge impact on both our physical and mental health, helping to get us up and out of the house and to battle loneliness which is especially crucial amongst the retirement community. However, when the time comes to move to a home more suitable to our changing needs as we get older, many over-60s worry they will have to rehome their beloved pets.

Pets are welcome here!

Rangeford Villages recognises the importance of our furry companions (who really do become members of the family) for the sustained mental health and wellbeing of our residents. As such we are proud to be able to offer independent, pet-friendly retirement villages at Wadswick Green in Wiltshire, Siddington Park in Cirencester, Mickle Hill in Yorkshire and Homewood Grove in Surrey, designed with you and your pets in mind.

Pets at Siddington Park

Heather moved into her one-bedroom ground floor apartment at Siddington Park in May 2022. She has two rescue dogs, both cross breeds rescued as puppies, and is an active supporter of The Dogs Trust and Guide Dogs for the Blind.

Heather was delighted to discover Siddington Park was such a dog-friendly village, saying, “When I told people I was downsizing and moving here, many people asked me what I was going to do with dogs. It made me laugh really, I don’t think they realise how much space I have here, it's really perfect for them.”

The landscaped gardens, woodland pathways and surrounding Cotswold countryside of Siddington Park offer pets and their owners’ access to plenty of scenic walks, fields, nature and green spaces. Many homes also have the luxury of their own private outdoor space – either a garden patio or balcony.

Heather is delighted with the space for her dogs to roam around, saying, “The dogs and I have settled into our new home really well; I think they are enjoying the social aspect of living here as well as me. We have lovely neighbours, the gardeners and staff are all really helpful, it’s great to watch life going by outside our window, we didn’t have that in our previous home.”

Pets at Wadswick Green

Rangeford Villages’ flagship village, Wadswick Green, is also fully pet friendly. The grounds offer owners over 25 acres of landscaped grounds surrounded by beautiful Wiltshire countryside.

Jan Warner, 82, moved to Wadswick Green from London in 2020. She adopted her cockerpoo puppy, Floss, during the pandemic even though she had not moved in with a pet. She says: “A lot of retirement villages only allow you to have a pet if you move in with one, but don’t let you get one once you’ve moved in. At Wadswick Green it caused no issue at all, and the staff have been very understanding and supportive. I’d always wished for a dog over the years, so I thought: now that I’m settled in at Wadswick Green, it’s the perfect time!”

A pet can provide retirees with a new lease of life, helping them to keep fit and encourage them to exercise more regularly. Jan has found her daily walks with Floss to be a great opportunity to chat to other residents:

“We go on walks twice a day. I would say that’s the biggest advantage for people my age: it keeps you fit, because it’s no longer just about you. I’ve always been fairly active, but having Floss gives me that extra incentive. I’m so grateful to have her, also because now virtually everyone stops to have a chat when we’re out and about!”

What else do our retirement villages offer as well as being pet friendly?

Both Heather and Jan benefit from the comfort of living in a home that was designed with the over 60s in mind. All Rangeford Villages homes are designed to be innovative and modern, featuring moveable island units in the kitchens; high-quality flooring, convenient appliances such as slide and hide oven doors, and easily accessible walk-in-showers and luxury taps and fittings.

There are also retirement village services that can assist with a range of requests including driving residents, picking up prescriptions, help with food shopping orders, assist with house maintenance, or even look after their home whilst they are away; as well as a number of exclusive, onsite amenities and hobby groups to make the most of retirement. Located on the outskirts of Cirencester, Siddington Park is fully open as of Spring 2023 and offers a selection of contemporary one to three bed apartments, with prices starting from £299,950.

Apartments are also available at Wadswick Green, with prices starting from £395,000. Prospective buyers are encouraged to get in touch with the friendly sales team, at Siddington Park on 01285 580 920 or at Wadswick Green on 01225 220 940. Also take a look at our full range of retirement properties for sale.