Grace Management launches national pet-inclusive senior living program

Grace Management, Inc. rolled out Pets Are Family Here™, a national program designed to make pets part of everyday senior living across its communities. The launch underscores a growing push to make older-adult housing more emotionally supportive and less restrictive for residents with pets.

Why it matters: - Pets can be a major source of comfort, routine, and emotional support for older adults. - Grace Management’s new program is designed to reduce the pressure residents may feel to choose between senior living and keeping a beloved pet. - The launch signals a broader shift from simply allowing pets to intentionally including them in community life.

What happened: - Grace Management, Inc. launched Pets Are Family Here™, a national pet-inclusive senior living program, on July 15, 2026. - The program is built around creating communities where residents and their pets feel welcome, valued, included, and at home. - Grace Management communities across the country marked the rollout with pet parades and other events. - The official host community for the national launch was The Highlands in Topsham, Maine.

The details: - Pets Are Family Here™ may include designated pet areas, walking paths, and outdoor spaces. - The program also includes pet-inclusive events and community celebrations. - Grace Management is adding thoughtful touches meant to help pets feel welcome as part of community life. - Associates are expected to recognize and support the importance of the human-animal bond. - The program also connects residents and communities with local veterinarians, groomers, shelters, and other pet service providers. - Grace Management said the goal is to make pets an intentional part of community life, not just something the community permits. - At The Highlands, pets already play a visible role in daily life, according to Chelsie Mitchell, Senior Executive Director of The Highlands. - Mitchell said residents walk dogs around campus, neighbors stop to visit with pets, and families share stories about the animals they love.

Between the lines: - Grace Management is positioning pet inclusion as a differentiator in senior living, not just an amenity. - The program fits a broader consumer preference for housing and care settings that feel more personal and emotionally familiar. - The emphasis on local pet-service relationships suggests the company wants pets integrated into operations, not treated as an afterthought.

What's next: - Grace Management is likely to expand the Pets Are Family Here™ approach across more of its 63 communities nationwide. - The company will continue using community events and local partnerships to reinforce the program. - Residents and families may see more pet-focused programming as the rollout advances.

The bottom line: - Grace Management is betting that pet inclusion can make senior living feel more like home for older adults and their animals.