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Older adults receiving long-term care at home (LTCH-clients) were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and its countermeasures. Previous research suggests that pets can mitigate some of the pandemic’s impacts for older adults but results are contradictory. Our aim was to investigate experiences of LTCH-clients and the significance of their pets during the pandemic. Accounting for saturation, semi-structured interviews were conducted with five LTCH-clients and four family caregivers of LTCH-clients with dementia. Participants were asked about their experiences with COVID-19 and the significance of LTCH-clients’ pets during the pandemic. Two researchers performed thematic analyses in ATLAS.ti using open coding and an iterative–inductive approach. All participants reported negative experiences as a result of COVID-19 countermeasures. Results suggested that caring for pets provided pet owners with structure, which may have contributed to a sense of stability and continuity. Our outcomes underlined an important role of pets for LTCH-clients both before and during the pandemic.

Background Pets play very important roles for older adults. However, whether the same roles apply to pets of care clients receiving long-term care at home (LTCH) is unclear. This study aimed primarily to explore whether the roles of pets for LTCH-clients who own pets are comparable to the roles of pets for older adults in the general population. Furthermore, we explored potential pet-related problems that might be encountered in LTCH in practice, and the potential influences of pet ownership on caregiving relationships. These insights may help improve long-term care services in LTCH.Methods This project started with a study using the Consensual Qualitative Research method (CQR). We conducted semi-structured interviews based on themes from our previous review (e.g., Relational Aspects, Emotional Aspects, and Social Aspects). Secondly, a LimeSurvey questionnaire was used to confirm the findings from the CQR study by calculating Content Validity Index scores (in SPSS 26) regarding contents, relevance, and clarity. The questionnaire also included open-ended questions on potential pet-related problems and their impact on caregiving relationships for LTCH-clients, family caregivers, and professional caregivers.Results The CQR study found that the roles pets play for LTCH-clients (N = 8), family caregivers (N = 10), and professional caregivers (N = 10) were similar to the roles pets play for older adults in the general population. The LimeSurvey confirmed most of the CQR findings. In the questionnaire, LTCH-clients (N = 4), family caregivers (N = 8), professional caregivers (N = 8), and researchers in human-animal studies and in geriatric care (N = 5) reported various potential problems that could arise from pet ownership by LTCH-clients, such as clients with deteriorating health being forced to part with their pets. Participants also reported potential positive and negative effects of pet ownership on caregiving relationships, such as pets being a nice topic of conversation, or, conversely, a source of disagreement in the LTCH context.Conclusions The roles pets play for LTCH-clients seem comparable to the roles pets play for older adults in the general population. In addition, LTCH-clients might experience pet-related problems specific to the LTCH context. Pets may influence caregiving relationships, either positively or negatively. Therefore, instruments and guidelines are needed to account for pets in LTCH.

BackgroundOver half of the households in The Netherlands have one or more pets. In elderly people, owning a pet is associated with a better quality of life and less loneliness, anxiety, depression and agitation. Many non-residential long term care (LTC) clients rely on support of others to take care of their pets. However, that may place a significant burden on the social support network of the LTC client. Issues relevant to keeping pets are not explicitly incorporated in the Dutch Long-term Care Act. Many LTC organizations have no instruments for care workers, clients and their family (1) to consolidate the positive role of pets for clients’ quality of life and (2) to address whether it is possible to keep the pets and to organize care accordingly.Research ObjectivesTo help care workers, clients and their family to gain insight into the role of the pets in the clients’ life and their social support network; to develop practical instruments that help making decisions about owning and caring for pets.MethodPLAN: In months 0-16, a narrative systematic review will be conducted (STUDY 1.1) on the meaning of pets for elderly people in general. A qualitative STUDY 1.2 with LTC clients, their informal carers and care professionals will validate and further explore the topic. STUDY 1.3 and 1.4 develop and (cognitively) validate work cards for interviews of clients and relatives by care providers. In months 17-29, an Experience based co-design method (STUDIES 2.1-2.3) will be used to develop the PET@home toolkit. The method includes (1) discovery interviews (10 clients and their family), (2) focus groups with healthcare providers (N = 2x6); (3) focus groups with 6-8 clients and informal and professional carers. In STUDY 3.1, potential users will pre-test the Toolkit. In months 30-34, a process evaluation (STUDY 3.2) is performed in 10-15 clients. A dissemination and an implementation plan will be developed.ConclusionsThe project will result in an innovative PET@home toolkit that will help to assess the pets role in the clients’ quality of life and support network, and will help making decisions about owning and caring for pets.

Background:Western countries face an aging population and increasing number of people with chronic illnesses. Many countries have shifted from a focus on institutional care to home-based care due to growing healthcare costs and pressure on long-term care. Despite, the increasing difficulty for contemporary family structures to support community-dwelling older adults (CDOA) who need care.However, about 50% of households own pets which may provide some social support for CDOA. A dearth of studies investigated the support pets provide to CDOA that receive long-term care but a better understanding of pets’ support in CDOA is needed to help develop healthcare protocols and interventions that account for pets in CDOA’s lives.Research Objective:To add insight into pets’ roles in support systems and the meaning this has for CDOA.Method:This integrative review was based on qualitative studies on CDOA with pets (average age 65+). Due to few studies on CDOA with pets with chronic illnesses, this review also includes CDOA without a chronic disease. PubMed and PsycINFO, were searched with (MeSH) variations on terms of older adults, pets, and qualitative study-designs. Additionally, reference lists of systematic reviews and HABRI Central were searched. The included articles were inductively analysed in ATLAS.ti.Results:A total of 15 articles were included in the review. 28 subthemes were categorised in 7 bidirectional factors: social, care, physical health, emotional, cognitive, bonding, and behavioural. CDOA indicate that pets are very important in their lives and have a positive influence on their social environment, mental, and physical health. However, also negative aspects of pet ownership were discussed. Limitations of the review were the varying research questions and diversity of participants in the included studies. Furthermore, we identified a need in some CDOA to keep their pets as long as possible.Conclusion:This review adds a more comprehensive view on the meaning and role of pets in providing support to CDOA. However, more research is needed into the effects of the revealed factors on the wellbeing of CDOA and healthcare organisations should consider the development of guidelines accounting for the pets of long-term care clients.