Leashes, Litterboxes, and Lifelines: Exploring Volunteer-Based Pet Care Assistance Programs for Older Adults

Abstract

At the convergence of population aging and pet-ownership, community stakeholders are well-positioned to support older adults’ relationships with companion animals through age-related transitions in health and living arrangements. In this study’s setting, a volunteer-based pet care assistance program launched in 2017 to provide practical assistance with pet care for socially disadvantaged, community-dwelling older adults. This case study explored the impacts and feasibility of this and similar programs via (i) an Internet-based environmental scan to compare similar programs and (ii) qualitative interviews with a sampling of diverse community stakeholders (n = 9). A small number of comparable international programs (n = 16) were found. Among these, programs were delivered using a range of funding models; fewer than half involved collaborations across human social services and animal welfare sectors; and none addressed all dimensions of support offered by our local program. Analysis of qualitative interviews highlighted five major themes confirming the value of the volunteer-based approach and the importance of cross-sectoral collaborations in addressing older adults’ under-recognized pet care-related needs. Taken together, the findings confirmed the effectiveness of our local program model. Collaborative, cross-sectoral programs that target both human and companion animal well-being hold promise to reduce barriers to pet ownership that many disadvantaged older adults face. This unique approach leverages the health-promoting potential of human-animal relationships in ways that enhance quality of life for individuals, animal welfare, and age-friendliness of communities.

The Impact of Sustained Ownership of a Pet on Cognitive Health: A Population-Based Study

“…We do not recommend pet ownership as a therapeutic intervention; however, if a causal link exists between sustained pet ownership and cognitive health, older adults who are interested in or committed to pet ownership could benefit from social policies and community partnerships to provide support for owners. A recent example of an innovative, community-based pet support program for older adults in Calgary, Canada was described by McLennan and colleagues (McLennan et al, 2022). The program is volunteer-driven and provides broad assistance to low-income older adults in caring for their pets in order to support and maintain bonds between older adults and their pets (2022).…”

Considering Cats, Dogs, and Contradictions: Pets and Their Relational Influence on Experiences of Aging in Place

“…As such, experiences of aging in place with pets were explored within our local setting, Calgary, AB, Canada, from several perspectives, and also in relation to a national longitudinal study that included data about pets (Toohey et al, 2018). Our municipality is internationally recognized as both a “pet-friendly” and an “age-friendly” city due to its progressive municipal policies (McLennan et al, 2022; Toohey et al, 2017), making it an instructive setting for considering this phenomenon. The qualitative components of this case study have involved ethnographic interviews with representatives of the social services and animal welfare sectors, as well as with older adults who were aging in place in a range of social and economic circumstances, to explore both benefits and challenges of aging in place with pets (see McLennan et al, 2022; Toohey et al, 2017; Toohey & Krahn, 2018; Toohey & Rock, 2019).…”

“…Our municipality is internationally recognized as both a “pet-friendly” and an “age-friendly” city due to its progressive municipal policies (McLennan et al, 2022; Toohey et al, 2017), making it an instructive setting for considering this phenomenon. The qualitative components of this case study have involved ethnographic interviews with representatives of the social services and animal welfare sectors, as well as with older adults who were aging in place in a range of social and economic circumstances, to explore both benefits and challenges of aging in place with pets (see McLennan et al, 2022; Toohey et al, 2017; Toohey & Krahn, 2018; Toohey & Rock, 2019). The primary quantitative component explored baseline data of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (Kirkland et al, 2015; Raina et al, 2009; Raina et al, 2019) to understand associations between pet-ownership, life satisfaction, and social participation (Toohey et al, 2018).…”

“…If viewed uncritically, the lower life satisfaction reported by older adults in survey data suggests a direct link between having a pet and experiencing diminished emotional well-being. This simplistic interpretation disregards the fundamental supportive roles that companion animals may play – particularly for socio-economically disadvantaged older adults (Matsuoka, Sorenson, Graham, & Ferreira, 2020; McLennan et al, 2022; Rauktis, Rose, Chen, Martone, & Martello, 2017; Toohey et al, 2017; Toohey & Rock, 2019). At the root of this problem is a common methodological presumption that having a pet can be likened to an epidemiological “exposure” that will lead to either beneficial or harmful outcomes in those who are “exposed” versus those who are not exposed (i.e., non-pet owners).…”

“…Ongoing experiences of having pets later in life are ultimately shaped by a wide array of factors, ranging from individual characteristics of people and pets, their particular life circumstances, and systemic considerations, including availability of affordable and appropriate pet-friendly housing, social support to assist with pet care, and costs of caring for a pet (McLennan et al, 2022; Toohey et al, 2017; Toohey & Rock, 2019). With these concerns in mind, an aim of this current study is to trouble the notion that quantitative measures – even those considered to be psychometrically robust, like the life satisfaction scale (Pavot & Diener, 2008) – will adequately capture the relational complexities of having a pet.…”