Managing Pet Keeping Responsibilities in Older Adulthood

Basin, B

doi:10.1093/geroni/igy023.820

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“…An indirect effect of pet ownership for older adults can also be an increase in social interaction with other people (Scheibeck et al ., 2011). Interviews with non-institutionalised older pet owners have also found that caring for a pet can provide pet owners with purpose, structure and a sense of fulfilment (Scheibeck et al ., 2011; Basin, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

‘It gives you more to life, it's something new every day’: an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of wellbeing in older care home residents who keep a personal pet

2020

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There is a substantial amount of literature that suggests that animals, and specifically animals kept as pets, can have a positive effect on wellbeing. Research exploring the impact of animals on wellbeing in care homes mainly concerns visiting animals as well as shared communal pets. In light of the lack of research regarding personal pets in care homes, the aim of this study was to explore what the experience of keeping a personal pet in a care home means for residents’ sense of wellbeing. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven care home residents who were currently living with their pet in a care home. Interviews were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Analysis revealed four master themes deemed to be relevant to participants’ wellbeing. these were: ‘sense of self and identity’, ‘responsibility and ownership’, ‘motivation and desire to live’ and ‘feeling content in the care home’. The analysis indicated that living with a personal pet in a care home has the potential to enhance residents’ wellbeing. At the same time, it also found that the benefits of keeping a personal pet may be dependent on specific circumstances, such as the attitudes of staff and fellow residents at the care home. This study indicates that it may be advisable for more care homes to accept personal pets.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%