The Significance of Pets for Vulnerable Older Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Explorative Qualitative Study

Reniers, Peter; Leontjevas, Ruslan; Declercq, Ine J. N.; Enders-Slegers, Marie-José; Gerritsen, Debby L.; Hediger, Karin

doi:10.3390/ani12202752

Cited by 5 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…Study population sizes ranged from 4-12,068 (mean: 1686; median: 611). Most studies recruited participants from the general population, although some focused on specific subgroups, including people living alone [133,153]; older adults [85,94,108,110,180,192]; adolescents [137,146,147], both children and adolescents [193], both parents and adolescents [95] or both parents and children [117]; parents [80][81][82]91,143,171]; teleworkers [119,125,172]; employees [183]; university students [111,149] or university students with emotional support animals [126]; individuals identifying as sexual or gender minorities [141]; people with severe mental illness [178]; people with dementia and their caregivers [166]; AIDS survivors [114]; unhoused individuals [105]; people with experience of veterinary consultations during the pandemic [92,93]; people who met the criteria for low-income veterinary care support [145]; people who had suffered the loss of an animal during the pandemic [150]; people who had purchased dogs during lockdown [113,157,158,188]; and domestic abuse helpline staff…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Animals perceived to improve self-compassion Kogan et al [127] Animals fostered a sense of gratitude [127]; Oliva and Johnston [153]; Owczarczak-Garstecka et al [156]; Reniers et al [166]; Scholtz [172]; Shoesmith et al [177]; Shoesmith et al [178];…”

Section: Finding Evidencementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Wriedt [188]; Zablan et al [192] Animals provided a sense of safety, security, and protection Reniers et al [166]; Scholtz [172]; Victor and Mayer [181] Animals encouraged interpersonal connections with other humans and were often a conversation starter Bennett et al [79]; Bennetts et al [81]; Clements et al [97]; Dogs Trust [102]; Holland et al [121]; Oliva and Johnston [153]; Owczarczak-Garstecka et al [156];…”

Section: Finding Evidencementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Reniers et al [166]; Scholtz [172]; Zablan et al [192] Caregivers felt encouraged to reach out and support other animal caregivers (e.g., sharing advice online)…”

Section: Finding Evidencementioning

confidence: 99%

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The Well-Being of Companion Animal Caregivers and Their Companion Animals during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Scoping Review

Brooks,

Greenberg

2023

Animals

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It is important to understand the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on animal caregivers and their companion animals in order to inform responses to future crises. Prior research is inconsistent, with the benefits of animal companionship believed to be overstated. In this scoping review, we searched four electronic databases and hand-searched reference lists of included studies. Over 4000 citations were found, and 122 were included in the review. Reflecting on the pre-COVID literature, quantitative evidence of the association between psychological well-being and animal companionship during the pandemic was mixed, with numerous positive, negative, and null findings reported. Studies highlighted the benefits of animal companionship during the pandemic, with animals reported to provide their caregivers with a routine, a sense of greater purpose, a positive distraction from COVID-19, companionship, and emotional support. However, participants also reported concerns about meeting animals’ needs, fears of animals catching or spreading the virus, and financial worries. Concerns about what would happen to animals if caregivers were hospitalized led some to delay COVID-19 testing or treatment. Animals also experienced benefits (such as increased companionship and calmer mood) and negative impacts (such as increased clinginess and separation anxiety). Companion animals should be a key consideration in emergency preparedness plans.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Finding Evidencementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Finding Evidencementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Reniers et al [166]; Scholtz [172]; Zablan et al [192] Caregivers felt encouraged to reach out and support other animal caregivers (e.g., sharing advice online)…”

Section: Finding Evidencementioning

confidence: 99%

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The Well-Being of Companion Animal Caregivers and Their Companion Animals during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Scoping Review

Brooks,

Greenberg

2023

Animals

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“…To the best of our knowledge, no studies to date have reported on the prevalence of pet ownership in the LTCH context and there remains a dearth of research on pets’ roles for LTCH-clients. Some evidence indicates that LTCH-clients experience the roles of pets in much the same way older adults in the general population experience them [ 7 , 8 ]. Nonetheless, there may be important differences between these two groups, particularly in how the care needs of LTCH-clients impact others.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The roles of pets in long-term care at home: a qualitative study

Reniers,

Leontjevas,

Declercq

et al. 2023

BMC Geriatr

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Background Pets play very important roles for older adults. However, whether the same roles apply to pets of care clients receiving long-term care at home (LTCH) is unclear. This study aimed primarily to explore whether the roles of pets for LTCH-clients who own pets are comparable to the roles of pets for older adults in the general population. Furthermore, we explored potential pet-related problems that might be encountered in LTCH in practice, and the potential influences of pet ownership on caregiving relationships. These insights may help improve long-term care services in LTCH. Methods This project started with a study using the Consensual Qualitative Research method (CQR). We conducted semi-structured interviews based on themes from our previous review (e.g., Relational Aspects, Emotional Aspects, and Social Aspects). Secondly, an online survey was used to confirm the findings from the CQR study by calculating Content Validity Index scores (in SPSS 26) regarding contents, relevance, and clarity. The survey also included open-ended questions on potential pet-related problems and their impact on caregiving relationships for LTCH-clients, family caregivers, and professional caregivers. Results The CQR study found that the roles pets play for LTCH-clients (N = 8), family caregivers (N = 10), and professional caregivers (N = 10) were similar to the roles pets play for older adults in the general population. The online survey confirmed most of the CQR findings. In the survey, LTCH-clients (N = 4), family caregivers (N = 8), professional caregivers (N = 8), and researchers in human-animal studies and in geriatric care (N = 5) reported various potential problems that could arise from pet ownership by LTCH-clients, such as clients with deteriorating health being forced to part with their pets. Participants also reported potential positive and negative effects of pet ownership on caregiving relationships, such as pets being a nice topic of conversation, or, conversely, a source of disagreement in the LTCH context. Conclusions The roles pets play for LTCH-clients seem comparable to the roles pets play for older adults in the general population. In addition, LTCH-clients might experience pet-related problems specific to the LTCH context. Pets may influence caregiving relationships, either positively or negatively. Therefore, instruments and guidelines are needed to account for pets in LTCH.

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“We Make Them Our Kin”: Australian Older Adult’s Playful Kinship Practices Through Sharing Animal Images on Social Media

McGrane,

Hjorth,

Murray

2024

Social Media + Society

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Pets, companion animals, and “more-than-human” kin play important roles in people’s lives. Animals are familiar and familial—they are often integral family members and can help create communities beyond the family unit. People rely on their pets for emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being. More recently, research into the role of animals in the lives of older adults has come into focus, especially through the visibilities and visualities of social media. The significance of animals in the lives of older adults in conjunction with the storification and sharing potential of social media leads us to ask: What do the practices of pet image sharing on social media reflect about ideas of aging and human and more-than-human kinship? In this article, we draw on ethnographic and interview data conducted with Australian older adults (65 years and above) about how and why they share images of their pets on social media. How do these visualities represent the feelings, care practices, and experiences of older adults and the value of the more-than-humans in their lives? This article seeks to contribute to social media literature by engaging with the under-explored lives of older adults and how their sharing practices reflect shifting relationalities between older adults and their pets.

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The Significance of Pets for Vulnerable Older Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Explorative Qualitative Study

Cited by 5 publications

References 44 publications

The Well-Being of Companion Animal Caregivers and Their Companion Animals during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Scoping Review

The Well-Being of Companion Animal Caregivers and Their Companion Animals during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Scoping Review

The roles of pets in long-term care at home: a qualitative study

“We Make Them Our Kin”: Australian Older Adult’s Playful Kinship Practices Through Sharing Animal Images on Social Media

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