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Is home somewhere that you feel comfortable? Is it filled with memories of beloved friends and family — some of whom may be furry animals?

Researchers analyzed data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging, a national study of adult development and aging which recruited more than 50,000 Canadians between the ages of 45 and 85. They found that  and that, for some people, living with pets can increase life satisfaction.

My research focuses on social justice and aging, with a special interest in the human-animal bond. I recently collaborated on .

When I researched community supports in Canada for this report, I discovered there is no government funding to help older adults care for pets.

This is unfortunate because . While people and their pets may seem like a frivolous concern, people’s relationships with their pets impact wellness and health in perhaps surprising ways.

Helping people in financial need to pay for their pets is fiscally responsible, since maintaining the human-animal bond could in the long term reduce health-care costs.

Aging in place with pets

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines aging in place as ”

Aging in place is associated with , , staying connected with ,  as well as avoiding the .

For many older adults pets are . Interactions with pets are not only important in terms of companionship, . For example, a study of people in Germany and Australia found that people who continuously own a pet are healthiest, . Researchers have linked the human-animal bond to ,  and .

Research also suggests people with pets are also .

But many older adults , and in such cases caring for pets can become too expensive to manage.

Given the many quality-of-life and health-related benefits of pet ownership, developing community support programs dedicated to keeping pets and older adults together are expected to .

Climate change dangers

Another concern regarding aging in place with pets is the potential impact of climate change — and how this may impact health.

Since climate change is predicted to result in more  there is the need to develop community support initiatives . , and is  as well as for those who .

Many older adults may opt to stay in a hot home with their pet, rather than going to a cooling centre without their companion animal, particularly if they foresee no options for the animal’s care. By providing , older adults’ heat-related suffering could be alleviated without concerns about abandoning their pet.

Plans to help older adults faced with climate-related danger should also consider that some . Compliance with evacuation orders might increase if government programs were implemented to provide vaccinations for pets and to evacuate older adults with their pets so that they can go to emergency shelters together.

In the United States there have been changes to . Ensuring pets are evacuated and reunited with their humans can be a positive influence on .

Integrating new initiatives within existing community supports to help older adults  would be a win-win, promoting wellness and potentially reducing health expenditures over the longer term.

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, is an assistant professor with the School of Kinesiology and Health Studies and an associated faculty member with the Surveillance Studies Centre at ���˴�Ƭ.

This article is republished from  under a Creative Commons license. Read the .

The Conversation is seeking new academic contributors. Researchers wishing to write articles should contact Melinda Knox, Associate Director, Research Profile and Initiatives, at knoxm@queensu.ca.

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