Pet Adoption & Pet Ownership Barriers for Senior Women Living Alone | Lynn Alkhouri

Meet Lynn

Welcome!

Hello there, and welcome to my exhibit. Below is a video briefly describing my topic, why I’ve chosen to conduct research in this area, and what I plan to do in the future:

Introduction

Problem Space

Companion animals can enrich people’s lives in various ways. Numerous research studies have proven that pets have the ability to improve a person’s emotional wellbeing, physical health, and social lifestyle as well as reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness (K. A. Anderson et al., 2015). Among the constantly rising number of people living with companion animals, older adults (75 years and older) often tend to form deep connections with their pets and perceive them as irreplaceable family members (Miltiades & Shearer, 2011). As pet owners grow older, their companion animals can become noticeably more crucial to their wellbeing, however, pet-care obstacles might begin to appear, and separation can have horrible consequences on both ends (Enders-Slegers & Hediger 2019).

Why Older Women Living Alone?

During the past 20 years, more and more older women are reported to be living alone due to many reasons (Eshbaugh, 2008). Women often outlive their male partners, and numerous studies showcase women having longer lifespans than men. On the other hand, today’s society is slowly shifting towards independent living, in addition to divorce and celibacy becoming more socially acceptable (Eshbaugh, 2008). The goal of my research is to identify, and co-design solutions for, pet ownership and pet adoption barriers affecting older women living alone in private homes or in residential care facilities.

In on research study, when elderly women participants were surveyed on the advantages of cat ownership, it was mostly affirmed that their companions provided affection, company, happiness, and a sense of security (P. A. Mahalski, 1988). On the other hand, certain disadvantages were pinpointed when non-pet owners were asked to elaborate on their choice not to have a pet cat. The pensioners’ answers included worrying about dying and leaving the cat behind, the added expense for low income participants, and worrying about the cat dying or getting displaced, among other reasons. What the surveyed women described as disadvantages, can more accurately be called barriers, and those barriers could be addressed with an inclusive mindset.

So Now What?

Growing older does not mean that one has to give up certain joys in life. Considering the numerous benefits pet ownership can offer to senior communities, human-animal relationships should be accessible to people of all ages. It is unjust that a person may have to give up their pet, or refrain from pet ownership completely, due to old age. With that being said, my study goals can be simplified into two categories:

1. Encouraging Adoption
   To encourage older women interested in pet adoption, and offer them meaningful information on the subject catered specifically to their needs. It is important for older women to be well-informed before making a decision, and successful human-pet pairing is possible regardless of the adopter’s age..
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2. Maintaining Pet Ownership 
   To help senior women who are already pet owners, to maintain their relationship with their pets by finding solutions for pet-care assistance and pet emergency planning.

Research Questions

1. Are there pet ownership and pet adoption barriers faced specifically by older women (i.e., 75 years and older) living alone? If yes, what are they and how might we approach them from an inclusive mindset?
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2. Are available pet-care assistance resources doing enough for the elderly women? How can we improve on their effort and raise more awareness about their services?
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3. Considering that the benefits of pet ownership outweigh the disadvantages, how might we create accessible, informative, affordable, and equitable adoption processes that encourage older women’s interest to welcome new pets into their homes?
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4. What are the guidelines to designing an effective and affordable pet-care plan that will put older women’s minds at peace in the event of their necessary absence from home (i.e., events such as urgent hospitalization or passing away)?
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5. What are the guidelines that ensure a pet-friendly home environment for elderly women and reduce the risks of physical injury due to pet-care tasks?

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