Abstract
Assessing risks in pet owners’ home environment may help develop strategies to enhance safety and well-being. The objective of this study is to uncover key themes informing the development of a home safety assessment tool for older adults with pets. A literature review and focus group interviews informed understanding of the safety concerns of older adults caring for pets. Participants were primary caregivers of a dog and/or cat (N = 30). Qualitative coding and analysis were guided by the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) model. None of the six included articles identified a tool for detecting pet care safety concerns. Focus group findings indicate pet behavior, care needs, and caregiving activities impact home safety, potentially affecting safely aging in place. This study highlights the need to address home safety with pets and identifies factors for increasing safety. Findings will inform tool development; further research is needed to refine and validate.
Plain Language Summary
Many older adults live with pets, which can offer companionship and emotional support but also introduce unique safety concerns in the home. Understanding these safety risks is essential, as pets’ behaviors, care requirements, and caregiving activities may pose challenges to aging safely in the home environment. This study aimed to better understand these risks and gather information to develop a home safety assessment tool for older adults with pets. Researchers reviewed existing studies and conducted focus group discussions with 30 older adults who were the primary caregivers of a dog or a cat. The review found that no current tools exist to specifically assess the safety concerns related to pet ownership for older adults. The focus group discussions revealed that several factors impact home safety, including pets’ behaviors (e.g., sudden movements), their care needs (e.g., feeding and grooming), and the physical demands of caregiving tasks (e.g., bending to feed or walking pets). These challenges can make it harder for older adults to live safely and independently at home. This study highlights the need for a tool to help identify and address pet-related home safety concerns. By understanding these risks, older adults, caregivers, and health care professionals can take steps to improve safety. Future research will focus on developing and testing a practical tool to support aging in place with pets.
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