Research investigates the relationship between pet ownership and housing decisions in older adults.

Pets can be a lifeline for older adults, providing much-needed companionship and emotional support. This makes the decision to move into supported accommodation even more difficult, as the majority of providers adopt a no-pets policy.

As Australia’s population ages, discussions around housing and accommodation for seniors are becoming commonplace, including what to do with their pets. To better understand the complex relationship between pet ownership and housing decisions in older adults, researchers at La Trobe University recently conducted a study which revealed pets as a significant influence on housing decisions.

Factors influencing housing decisions

The online survey was completed by 204 participants, aged between 56-88 years. The majority of participants were retired women, 73% of which owned a dog, and 46% owned a cat. A questionnaire was developed to assess the importance of various factors, including comfort, financial suitability, location, emotional attachment, and the presence of pets, in their decision-making process about moving home, especially into supported living accommodation.

The results showed that pets were not the most important reason for planning to move home, but nearly two-thirds of participants did report it as ‘very’ or ‘extremely’ important. When asked to imagine a hypothetical future in which they needed to move, 67% of participants stated that their pet would make moving difficult.

More pet-friendly accommodation

The findings of this study highlight the importance of including pets when discussing moving house, especially into supported living accommodation. The study underlines the need for supported accommodation providers to adopt more pet-friendly policies, recognising the profound role that pets play in the lives of older adults.

Key study findings:

• Pets influenced housing decisions in older adults
• Pets were not the most important reason for planning to move home, but were high priority
• The majority of participants believed pets would make moving in the future difficult
• The research highlights a need for more pet friendly supported living accommodation