Help support the elderly and their pets in the Pet Friendly Aged Care Survey

With a lack of government support for elderly pet owners in in-home care, much-loved pets are being surrendered to shelters across the country, according to national animal welfare charity Companion Animal Network Australia (Australia CAN).

"Only nine per cent of in-home care providers offer a pet friendly service," said Trish Ennis, chief executive of Australia CAN, which runs the Pet Friendly Aged Care program.

"Our research shows only 18 per cent of aged care facilities consider allowing residents to keep a pet. We also ask the government to increase the number of pet-friendly aged care facilities and promote the social benefits to aged care villages when they welcome pets into their facilities.

"People who are separated from their pets upon entering an aged care facility often experience an extra layer of grief at a time of loss and sadness. People are putting their lives on the line when they refuse to move into aged care because they can't bring their pet with them.

"If people were allowed to keep their pets, aged care take-up by elderly people will increase and the number of pets being surrendered to animal shelters will decrease. Now is the time to understand the value of pets and develop policies that recognise their role."

The network offers free resources, including pet-related policies, guidelines and documents, for aged care providers, support agencies and organisations to manage and care for pets in aged care settings.

"(The) Pet-Friendly Aged Care website is a place where elderly pet owners, their families and aged care facility operators can find tips and advice that allow residents to keep their pets in safe and responsible ways," Ms Ennis said.

"Whether it be residential care or home care, our members take in pets when their owner goes into hospital. Sadly, there is no government funding to support our emergency pet care programs.

"Now that the entire aged care industry is under review, it's important to look at the bigger picture and understand that if people need aged care and don't have support to keep their pets, they have to choose between going into aged care and abandoning their pet. It's a double-edged sword."

With Australia's in-home aged care system under Federal Government review, the network invites people to complete a Pet Friendly Aged Care Survey.

"Many studies show caring for a pet can help to ease loneliness, relieve stress, anxiety and depression and provide unconditional love. Sadly, many elderly pet owners who depend on in-home assisted living and the daily companionship of their animals, lack the government support they desperately need," Ms Ennis said.

A Federal Government Service List Advisory Body will be considering pet care assistance/pet support as part of the new federally funded In-Home Aged Care Program due to come into effect in July 2024.

The decision will be critically important for thousands of frail-aged people dependent on care at home and who rely on and benefit from daily pet companionship.

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The results of the survey aim to provide government decision-makers with valuable information about what older pet owners need and want in the new national In-Home Aged Care Program.

"Our aim is to support the elderly and their pets by talking to the government about including pet support options in the Home Care Packages to prevent animals from being euthanised or surrendered to shelters and maximise the physical and emotional health of our pet-loving elderly," Ms Ennis said.

"Please help to make pet care assistance/pet support possible by completing the quick survey on in-home pet support and share the survey widely with your pet-related networks and encourage them to help, too."