Page 1296 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 29 March 2017

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attention to the organisations Pets and Positive Ageing and the Pet Assistance and Wellbeing Service. These organisations and the work they do add another dimension to the discussion about responsible pet ownership.

I was very proud to become patron of Pets and Positive Ageing in February, following my predecessor Mary Porter’s excellent work, and she still remains a patron from her new home. Pets and Positive Ageing is an important Canberra-based community organisation that is helping older Australians to keep and care for their beloved pets. It is no surprise to me that pet owners are generally healthier and happier than non-pet owners. Many of you would have seen me walking my dogs, Cooper and Bailey, around Belconnen town centre. They are always excited to see me when I come home, and they are great companions.

However, most of us do not necessarily think about what might happen to our pets if we were to move into aged accommodation or when we are no longer able to care for them properly. Pets and Positive Ageing recognises the benefits and challenges that older pet owners face, and steps in to help older Canberrans continue their relationship with their pets.

Unfortunately, sometimes older people can be socially isolated. However, owning a pet has been shown to alleviate feelings of loneliness and improve social interaction. Owning a pet has obvious physical health benefits. Pet owners have reduced risk factors for cardiovascular disease, lower stress and blood pressure. They are also likely to exercise more and have fewer visits to their GP for minor ailments.

Pets and Positive Ageing is committed to promoting these benefits, especially to aged-care facilities. Indeed pets in nursing homes are one of the few interventions successful in permanently improving the mood of hospices and nursing homes. Studies have also shown that living with pets reduces verbal aggression and anxiety in people with Alzheimer’s, increases older people’s perception of their wellbeing and improves their attentiveness to their own self-care needs.

Moving to an aged-care facility may be a necessary step for some older Canberrans but pet owners are understandably reluctant to leave their beloved pets. Pets and Positive Ageing is linking older Canberrans with aged-care facilities that allow residents to keep their pets. The organisation is also campaigning for pet support to be a standard service offered for in-home care packages. In addition Pets and Positive Ageing is developing a Canberra-wide program to support older pet owners during temporary health crises. Volunteers are providing in-home support for frail, low income pet owners who are experiencing a medical difficulty.

Another great community organisation that is doing some fantastic work in this space is PAWS, the Pet Assistance and Wellbeing Service run by the Northside Community Service in Dickson. PAWS helps older Canberrans to get their pets to the vet and can arrange temporary homes, pet walking, feeding and grooming.

These valuable community organisations are playing a vital role in ensuring pets’ welfare, while helping older Canberrans to continue living with their pets.


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