Carving out a place for “pets” within the age-friendly agenda:  A case study exploring the public health implications of companion animal relationships for older adults who are aging-in-place

Toohey, Ann Madeline

Carving out a place for “pets” within the age-friendly agenda: A case study exploring the public health implications of companion animal relationships for older adults who are aging-in-place

dc.contributor.advisor	Rock, Melanie June
dc.contributor.author	Toohey, Ann Madeline
dc.contributor.committeemember	Adams, Cindy
dc.contributor.committeemember	Hewson, Jennifer
dc.date	2018-06
dc.date.accessioned	2018-01-25T19:11:20Z
dc.date.available	2018-01-25T19:11:20Z
dc.date.issued	2018-01-17
dc.description.abstract	Growing numbers of people surpass the age of 65 each year, and a widely adopted response has been to work towards making communities more “age-friendly,” as per the World Health Organization’s age-friendly policy framework. Within this framework, there is no explicit reference to older adults’ relationships with companion animals (“pets”), even as pet-ownership is prevalent among older adults in many countries worldwide. Thus my research aimed to explore, from a socio-ecological perspective, the extent to which growing efforts to promote aging-in-place by adopting an age-friendly policy framework may also be influencing the health-promoting potential of relationships between older adults and their companion animals. To achieve this aim, I conducted an ethnographic multiple case study set in Calgary, Alberta, between November 2014 and October 2016. This approach allowed me to explore these influences at both the national and local population levels. My case study entailed three methodologically distinct, yet conceptually linked, research components: (i) a statistical analysis of associations between social participation and life satisfaction for older pet owners and non-owners participating in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA); (ii) a thematic content analysis of local community-based social support and animal welfare agencies’ experiences of serving older adults with companion animals; and (iii) a dialogical narrative analysis of the housing transition challenges described by lower income older adults who were aging-in-place with a companion animal. In synthesizing the findings of each component, my thesis concludes that companion animal relationships may, in some circumstances, confound efforts to promote age-friendly communities in ways that are equitable. Consideration for companion animals is merited across several domains of age-friendliness. The negative consequences of omitting consideration for older adults’ relationships with companion animals from age-friendly efforts may be unfairly borne by those who are experiencing socio-economic disadvantages and social isolation as they age-in-place. This omission may unintentionally serve to impede the health-promoting benefits of animal companionship later in life. A reversal of this situation could help to contribute to health equity and social justice for the growing numbers of older adults who are aging-in-place, and for their companion animals.	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Toohey, A. M. (2018). Carving out a place for “pets” within the age-friendly agenda: A case study exploring the public health implications of companion animal relationships for older adults who are aging-in-place (Doctoral thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/5416	en_US
dc.identifier.doi	http://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/5416
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/1880/106335
dc.language.iso	eng
dc.publisher.faculty	Cumming School of Medicine
dc.publisher.faculty	Graduate Studies
dc.publisher.institution	University of Calgary	en
dc.publisher.place	Calgary	en
dc.rights	University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.
dc.subject.classification	Gerontology	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Public Health	en_US
dc.title	Carving out a place for “pets” within the age-friendly agenda: A case study exploring the public health implications of companion animal relationships for older adults who are aging-in-place
dc.type	doctoral thesis
thesis.degree.discipline	Community Health Sciences
thesis.degree.grantor	University of Calgary
thesis.degree.name	Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
ucalgary.item.requestcopy	true
ucalgary.thesis.checklist	I confirm that I have submitted all of the required forms to Faculty of Graduate Studies.	en_US