Aged Care Facilities Canberra: Push for Pets in Residential Aged Care

The ABC has reported that support to allow pets in residential aged care is growing. Currently many residential aged care homes forbid pets and residents are often forced to leave their companion/s behind when they move into a nursing home or retirement village. Whilst there are current support services to help elderly people find suitable homes for their pets if they are required to leave them behind, many are pushing for aged care providers to preserve the bond between residents and their pets.

A Legislative Assembly in Canberra will take place for aged care experts, veterinarians, developers and architects who will discuss the best way to preserve the bond elderly residents have with their pets whilst in aged care accommodation.

“That conversation will go some way to alerting people to the opportunities that are there as well as the challenges,” said Labor MLA Mary Porter.

Michael Hayward told the ABC that while there were obvious issues to manage, there was no reason why pets could not be allowed in aged care facilities.

“While there are obvious issues….those issues can be managed, just as they are managed in the community.”

He said careful attention to the occasional profile of pets which are coming into aged care facilities would be needed and that facility owner’s needed to be well advised on how they can manage pets in aged care facilities.

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