Ageing with animals: a scoping review exploring pet inclusion for older adults through a socioecological lens

Increasingly older adults are seeking relationships with pets with literature showing demonstrated positive outcomes. Concurrently within both community dwelling and communal living environments (such as residential aged care homes and retirement villages), there are concerns about health and safety of the older adults, the welfare of the pets and compliance with social norms and organisational policies. This scoping review explored the literature about outcomes and implications of older adults ageing with pets and identified the diverse factors that shape inclusion of animals for older adults living in both community and communal settings. Following development of search terms with an academic librarian, ten databases and grey literature were systematically searched. Results were exported into Endnote and then Covidence with duplicates removed at both stages. Duplicate screening occurred at title and abstract and full text. Data were then extracted into worksheets for study characteristics, context, outcomes and inclusion factors. The data were then organised according to a socioecological framework of intrapersonal, interpersonal, community, organisational and governmental factors for inclusion and outcomes. One hundred records were included with most from the United States of America ( n = 39) and Canada ( n = 16). Seventy-one of records were community dwelling older adults, 20 in residential aged care and nine across mixed settings. Most of the records were about dogs ( n = 42) and were primary research ( n = 77). Pets provided companionship, social connections and encouraged physical activity. However, pets may lead to self-neglect due to financial or housing concerns. Legal and policy frameworks shape the conditions under which pets are included in the lives of older adults. Currently the literature focuses on the intrapersonal and interpersonal socioecological levels with more attention needed at the community, organisational and governmental levels. Even with positive outcomes for older adults ageing with pets, they may face pet loss as their health or living conditions change. To address this, older adults would benefit from having pet care options if needed as well as financial and physical support to care for pets. Information is needed about the impacts of pet inclusion policies for older adults and initiatives to support them. Not applicable