Companion animals and the health of older people

The International Federation on Ageing has published Companion animals and the health of older persons as one response to the projected costs associated with caring for ageing populations.  A literature review examined the relationship of older people living both independently and in long-term care facilities, including dementia sufferers and people with a mental illness, with their pets. The study focused on the physical, mental, emotional and social health of these people, as well as the role of animals in their perceptions of inclusion in their community.  The economic impact of animals interacting with older people was also examined and some promising initiatives explored, including one in Victoria and one in NSW.  It was acknowledged that research on this topic has been very limited.

Companion animals and health

"The 'pet effect' - Health related aspects of companion animal ownership" is an open-access article which discusses practical ways to integrate companion animals into health care and health promotion. The author summarises the health-related benefits of companion animal ownership and makes recommendations to GPs about how they can integrate discussions about pet interaction into everyday practice. Bringing up this subject could be a catalyst for engaging patients in discussions about preventive health, and could enable GPs to deliver more tailored patient management and personalised lifestyle recommendations.  

Smith, B. (2012). Australian Family Physician, 41(6), 439-442