It is one of the biggest social issues for older people: having to give up a beloved pet to move into aged accommodation. There is much anecdotal evidence of personal pain, but pain out of public view.
A recent forum in Canberra on pets and aged care found agreement among aged care professionals, animal welfare agencies and pet owners that we need to talk about older people and pets – and it is time for change.
I declare my interest. I am a senior pet owner. On ABS figures, in 2012, some 3 million0 Australians are over 65; by 2026 the number will be over 5 million; by 2056, up to 10 million. With an estimated 63% of Australian households owning some type of pet, potentially millions will be older pet owners.
Like me, many older pet owners want to continue to live alongside their pets and think being old shouldn’t require them to forgo pet ownership – whether ageing at home, in a retirement village or a care setting — via redwolf.newsvine.com
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