Pet Ownership and Human–Animal Interaction in an Aging Population: Rewards and Challenges

Abstract

Older adults in most developed countries can now expect to live nearly 80 years without significant disability. To maximize the quality of the years after retirement, societies, governments, and organizations are seeking strategies to help older adults maintain their mental and physical health, and retain their independence. Increasingly, the impact of pet ownership and other forms of human-animal interaction in healthy aging are discussed and investigated. In the Western world, more than 50% of households own one or more pets. The popularity of pets means they are well positioned to provide opportunities for companionship and nurturance. Since social networks tend to decrease as people age, pets may fill some gaps. While it is common to read about the benefits of pets and human-animal interactions, pet ownership in older age is also related to challenges and animal welfare concerns. This paper aims to briefly review the benefits and then explore risks and challenges related to pet ownership in older adulthood. In addition, we present strategies for maintaining beneficial pet ownership and human-animal interaction for older adults.

Opinions towards Companion Animals and Their Welfare: A Survey of Croatian Veterinary Students

“…The number of CA in the Western world has abruptly increased in the past few decades, with more than 50% of households owning one or more animals [3]. In the European Union (EU), the most common CA species is cat with a population of approximately 75.3 million (M), followed by dog (65.5 M), ornamental birds (35.6 M), small mammals (19.4 M), aquaria (10.6 M) and reptiles (6.3 M) [4].…”

Healthy, Active Aging for People and Dogs

“…There is an increasing body of evidence suggesting that pets may offer a range of health benefits supporting older adults to retain their physical and mental health, independence, social connectedness and engagement (63)(64)(65)(66). Pets also offer humans opportunities to nurture and feel needed, to provide a purpose, structure and routine for daily life (67), to enhance feelings of security (68), to give and receive affection, and to maintain older adults' ability to care for themselves independently (69).…”

“…The risk of zoonotic infection is small other than to certain particularly vulnerable populations (67). Common concerns and barriers related to pet ownership include finances, functional capability to meet the pet's needs, restrictions imposed by their living arrangements and concerns should the pet owner fall ill or die (67,131). Some concerns may be relatively easily overcome with extra support from family or carers, or from external services, although there may be an associated cost.…”

“…Research questions need to move beyond pet ownership as a binary question and should be framed to examine different variables including: the extent and quality of regular interaction with dogs; pet keeping history over a person's lifetime; the length of time they have had a relationship with their current dog; contact with other people's dogs or through animal-assisted interventions; and importantly, the relationship between a person's desire for, and the reality of, pet interaction as a factor in observed human health outcomes ( 123 ). Priorities include how human-animal interaction (HAI) impacts on major transitions or events in the lives of older adults such as retirement, the death of a spouse, and seeking or moving from independent living into sheltered accommodation or an institutionalized facility ( 67 , 124 ). Recent systematic reviews within sub-populations are welcome but more research is needed on more ethnically and culturally diverse populations ( 125 ).…”

“…In addition to the call for more research, the development of special pet-care programs and services for and by older adults is recommended together with the implementation of protocols and guidelines for the admission of pets and visiting dogs to assisted living and institutionalized care settings ( 67 ).…”