A national animal welfare charity says urgent action is needed to keep older people and their pets together to ease loneliness and prevent unnecessary surrenders
Despite 86 per cent of older adults experiencing improved mental and physical health with pets in aged care settings, only 18 per cent of aged care facilities consider allowing residents to keep a companion animal, according to Companion Animal Network Australia’s 2023 Aged Care Survey: Status of Pets in Aged Care.
Also, when it comes to older adults living at home, 91 per cent of those with pets who receive a government-funded Home Care Package (HCP) do not receive support to help to care for their companion animal, according to survey results.
“While we’ve always recognised the benefits of owning a pet, our survey shows the Australian Government and aged care providers have been slow to understand the enduring value of the human-animal bond for older people,” CANA chief executive officer Trish Ennis said.
“There’s often a catastrophic emotional harm caused when older people are forced to give up their pets upon moving into an aged care home, and resulting in their much-loved animals being surrendered to shelters across the country,” Trish said.
“People are putting their lives on the line when they refuse to move into aged care because they can’t bring their pet with them.
“If people were allowed to keep their pets, aged care take-up by older people will increase and the number of pets being surrendered to animal shelters will decrease.”
CANA’s aged care report also reveals older people who depend on in-home assisted living and the daily companionship of their animals lack the government support they desperately need, Trish said.
The survey reveals 61 per cent of older adults live alone, and 74 per cent of older adults with pets say their animals provide companionship and reduce loneliness.
While 40 per cent of older adults who receive a HCP have pets, only 9 per cent of these pet owners receive pet care support, such as walking their dog (64 per cent need help) and taking their pet to the vet (62 per cent need help).
“Our survey shows there is an urgent need to support pet ownership for older Australians who choose to live independently,” Trish said.
“The health and wellbeing benefits of pet ownership are measurable and indisputable. The CHSP (Commonwealth Home Support Programme) and HCP can be extended to determine and secure the necessary assistance for a person to live independently with their pet by ensuring services are offered to support pet health and wellbeing.
“Increasing the number of pet-friendly in-home aged care support will also help to prevent animals from being euthanised or surrendered to shelters and maximise the physical and emotional health of animal loving older people.”