ANIMALS & ELDERS: TOGETHER FOREVER/RESOURCES
By Pea Horsley
www.animalthoughts.com
PERSUADING A HOUSING PROVIDER/RESIDENTIAL HOME TO ACCEPT
COMPANION ANIMALS
Don’t automatically accept that you will have to give up your companion animal(s) just
because you are going into care. There are always options! Pet-friendly homes and housing
providers are available. And it is often possible to persuade a Home to accept pets – provided
you can lay out the facts. This guide tells you what you need to do and gives web links to
essential information.
Before you approach a housing provider or Home....
ASK YOUR VET SURGERY FOR SUPPORT
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Could they supply a practice staff member to support you at a meeting with housing
staff?
If not, could they provide, in writing, the following for you to give the housing provider:
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An overview of the health and social benefits of the human-animal bond
How the human-animal bond supports any specific health conditions/life situations
you may have (ie cardiovascular disease, hypertension, depression, obesity, cancer,
osteoporosis, disability, bereavement or any other losses)
An overview of your animal’s general health and behaviour
ASK YOUR GP FOR SUPPORT
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Refer your GP to the research findings regarding the human-companion animal bond
(see below)
Ask them to write a letter on your behalf explaining how the human-animal bond
supports your specific health conditions/life situations (ie cardiovascular disease,
hypertension, depression, obesity, cancer, osteoporosis, disability, bereavement or any
other losses)
Remind them that improving the quality of care for older people and promoting
choice, independence and engagement are at the heart of government policy guidance
(see Department of Health guidance: A new ambition for older age; Living well with
dementia: A national dementia strategy; Care Quality Commission – essential
standards)
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ASK YOUR MP FOR SUPPORT (optional)
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Ask your MP if s/he would ask your housing provider to consider a pro-pet policy
Remind him /her that the UK is lagging behind other countries in this respect
(including France, Greece, Spain, Switzerland, Japan, USA)
Remind him/her of the 2007 Tokyo Declaration that states ‘It is a universal, natural
and basic human right to benefit from the presence of animals’. It urged local and
national governments and international organisations to enact housing regulations that
allow the keeping of companion animals and to allow the presence of companion
animals in care/residential centres (International Association of Human-Animal
Interaction Organizations).
You could also prepare a letter for the MP to use requesting the housing provider to consider
a pro-pet policy and briefly outline why, pointing to:
 Recent studies into mental health and wellbeing in later life that have identified
companion animals as an important factor in promoting good physical and
psychological health
 The fact that improving the quality of care for older people and promoting choice,
independence and engagement are at the heart of government policy guidance.
 The fact that those housing providers who do accept companion animals have positive
results and that it typically leads to happier care facilities and a reduced staff turnover
 The Office of Fair Trading guidance to housing providers says that clauses banning
the keeping of animals are unfair, which could leave them open to legal action
BEFORE YOU ATTEND A MEETING WITH A HOUSING PROVIDER
Consider asking someone you know and trust to go with you, perhaps even acting as your
advocate (ideally a professional such as your vet, but otherwise a friend or family member
who is articulate, sensible and businesslike). Remember, your aim is to encourage a housing
provider to recognise the advantages of being pro-pet so your approach should be informed,
pro-active and courteous.
Prepare a small information pack to leave with the housing provider including:
 A list of the main health, social and economic benefits of the companion animalhuman bond
 A print-out of Q&As for housing providers
 A list of web links (see below) that the housing provider can use to access further
information
 Any relevant letters from your Vet, GP or MP.
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DURING YOUR MEETING
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Explain the importance of the human-animal bond.
Outline the health and wellbeing benefits, drawing attention to the fact that you have
included this information in their pack, along with any information supplied by your
doctor that is personally relevant.
Outline the significant benefits companion animals bring to residents and staff in
residential care including cost savings – people with companion animals are typically
healthier; less stressful, happier homes lead to decreased staff turnover. Your vet may
have also given you relevant information.
Point out that improving the quality of care for older people and promoting choice,
independence and engagement lie at the heart of government policy guidance. As an
animal lover,
(All the information you need for this can be found in the links at the bottom of the page.)
Address their concerns about the practicalities of accommodating pets:
 Refer to the SCAS Q&As addressing typical concerns.
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Point out that excellent guidance is available for housing providers in SCAS’s PetFriendly Care Kit and Guidance to Going Pet-Friendly to further address the practical
issues of including animals in their environment.
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Suggest they speak to a housing provider with a positive pet policy (see below).
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Point out that pro-pet housing providers such as Hanover Housing Authority state:
‘There are lots of proven benefits of keeping pets and we can’t understand why some
organisations would want to deny people this opportunity’.
If all else fails, politely remind the housing provider that the Office of Fair Trading guidance
to housing providers states that clauses banning the keeping of animals are unfair. This not
only gives you the right to take the case to court, should you wish to do so, but may create
media interest.
Further information and web links:
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Research findings regarding the human-companion animal bond (see We Look
After Each Other: Our Relationship Matters for more information and SCAS)
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Research findings on health and wellbeing benefits of companion animals on
older people in residential care (as above; also We Bring Home Back To
Residential Care)
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Guidance on Going Pet-Friendly
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Housing providers with a positive pet policy (Anchor Housing Trust ; Hanover
Housing Authority; or for a pro-pet residential care home (see Cinnamon Trust and
Elderly Accommodation Council The latter have some great videos on their site
showing what life is like in their pet-friendly facilities.
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