One of the benefits of the work we do at 1 Call Holiday Arrangements is to see the joy that family pets bring to their owners – of all ages. However, it seems the age group that receives the most joy from their pets is the over 50’s.

For this reason the following item from the Seniors Card digital magazine on the benefits of pet ownership for the “not so young” caught our eye:-

Whatever the reason, it’s a fact that people with pets benefit health-wise and happiness-wise. Pets tick all the boxes and instinctively we know it. Why else would 83 per cent of Australia’s population have lived with a pet at some stage and half of those who haven’t ever had a pet wish they did. Pets add something positive to our lives, no matter what our lives look like. Young, old, rich, poor, good job, unemployed, alone or surrounded by others – all sorts of people enjoy living with pets and are healthier and happier for it. Imagine the personal pain and anguish of having to leave your pet behind if /or when you decide to more into a retirement village, or later down the track aged care accommodation.

The Animal Welfare League of Australia is in the process of investigating a series of pet friendly successful models adopted in retirement villages and nursing homes across the country as a part of their new Positive Ageing with Animals Project. The project will call on all retirement villages and aged care accommodation providers to take part in a national survey to share data, perceptions about pets in their facility and information on existing pet policies. Once completed, this new initiative will drive policy changes that aim to better preserve the bond between humans and animals in gated communities and nursing homes across Australia.

“Making provision for pets in these environments and communities makes sense as pets help establish a community feeling and can encourage friendships between residents and neighbours” says Anne Boxhall, Executive Officer, Animal Welfare League Australia (AWLA).

It appears that retirement villages are leading this trend with approximately half of the providers in South Australia allowing some type of provision for pet. Successful models are already in practice which ensures the welfare of the pet (by providing open and communal spaces for the animal to explore) the owner and other residents living in the complex.

In many aged care facilities, having a pet live permanently on site may lead to higher occupational health and safety risks for residents and staff members, especially if the animals are integrated into a clinical environment. Although, the Positive Ageing with Animals Project has uncovered a variety of options for residents of aged care facilities to still gain the health and social benefits from maintaining regular contact with pets. These can include one on one or group visits with therapy animals, small companion animals living on site and in some cases, scheduled visits with cherished pets, i.e. doggie day care.

With findings of the project set to be released in middle of 2014, the days of residents being forced to give up their pets when moving into a retirement village, nursing home or hostel could soon become a thing of the past.

If you or someone you may know live in a retirement village or aged care accommodation, the AWLA encourages you to talk to your provider about taking part in the national survey.