Human-animal relationships in older persons: from pet companionship to animal-assisted interventions. A position statement

The rising awareness of how animal companionship enhances human well-being has drawn significant attention from people of all ages. Literature data about the impact of human-animal relationships is still limited by the number of studies and the settings explored, especially among older adults. However, encouraging results were provided by some preliminary studies investigating pet ownership and AAI in old age. In this manuscript we provide a detailed overview of the effects of the human-animal relationship in older people. We review data on the benefits of pet ownership in later life and on Animal-Assisted Interventions (AAI) as a non-pharmacological strategy to support traditional approaches to the most prevalent disabling conditions in the older population, focusing on the technical requirements that guarantee the quality and safety of AAI. Indeed, AAI may allow for the advantages of the positive effects of the human-animal bond in the older population without the challenges of pet companionship ownership, which may not always be suitable for some older adults.