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SCAS/PFMA Key Findings

 

Pets and older people in residential care

A study commissioned by the Society for Companion Animal Studies and the Pet Food Manufacturers' Association

There is currently no legal obligation for residential care homes in the UK to allow pets.This situation is in stark contrast to that in many other countries. The USA, Canada, Greece, France and Switzerland, among others, have all introduced legislation to ensure that older people have the right to keep or maintain contact with animals, whether they live independently in the community, in sheltered accommodation or in long-term care homes.

Many older people in the UK feel they have no choice but to give up their pets when they move into sheltered accommodation or residential care. This study asked 234 care facilities (ie residential care/nursing homes, sheltered housing units) in Cambridge, Coventry, Birmingham, Manchester, Plymouth and York about different aspects of their pet-keeping policies and the impact of these on their residents. It included interviews with staff, managers and residents, as well as focus groups with older people who are not presently in care.

Key findings

Distress in older people

• Nearly 40% of elderly people in care facilities show noticeable symptoms of distress because they have been parted from their pets. In reality the figure may be even higher since many older people do not disclose their feelings about the loss of a companion animal, nor dostaff always investigate the underlying causes of distress, depression or inability to adjust to new surroundings.

 

Lack of formal policies

• 65% of care homes still have no formal written policies on pets.

 

• Just 29% of UK facilities permit pet ownership as a matter of policy and, of these, over half (54%) specifically exclude cats and dogs – despite these being the most commonly kept species of pet.

 

• 43% of the population shares their home with a pet but only 29% of respondents said they routinely investigated pet ownership amongst potential entrants to care facilities.

 

Lack of understanding

• Many care homes still do not allow pets and there is a lack of understanding about the bond between people and their pets. Many vets highlighted their concern that well-meaning relatives may dispose of an animal without the consent of an elderly owner when they are moving into residential care.

 

• 34% of care homes said they would allow personal pets to visit their previous owner by arrangement and 56% allowed, or would consider, visits by 'Pets as Therapy' animals*

 

• Communal or visiting pets in care facilities are enjoyed, but are not the same as a personal pet that is often the repository for memories of a deceased spouse, family ties, and a previous lifestyle.

Confusion amongst staff

Interviews with care home staff showed a lack of communication between managers and carers – both thought the other would not like pets.

While most homes are not unsympathetic to pet ownership, they often have concerns about admitting pets, particularly in relation to zoonotic diseases and allergy problems. The primary concern was that residents' families would raise concerns about health within a care setting, but these issues are easily overcome – see Housing provider FAQs [LINK].

*Pets as Therapy (PAT) is a national charity providing therapeutic visits to hospitals, hospices, nursing and care homes etc, by volunteers with their own friendly, temperament tested and vaccinated dogs and cats.

Download the full report