When 'Places' Include Pets: Broadening the Scope of Relational Approaches to Promoting Aging-in-Place
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| Category | Journal Articles |
|---|---|
| Abstract |
Aging-in-place is a well-established concept, but discussions rarely consider that many older adults live with pets. In a ‘pet-friendly’ city, we conducted semi-structured interviews to explore perspectives of community-based social support agencies that promote aging-in-place, and those of animal welfare agencies. Applying a relational ecology theoretical framework, we found that pets may contribute to feeling socially- situated, yet may also exacerbate constraints on autonomy experienced by some older adults. Pet-related considerations at times led to discretionary acts of more-than-human solidarity, but also created paradoxical situations for service-providers, impacting their efforts to assist older adults. A shortage of pet-friendly affordable housing emerged as an overarching challenge. Coordination among social support and animal welfare agencies, alongside pet-supportive housing policies, will strengthen efforts to promote aging-in-place in ways that are equitable and inclusive. |
| Submitter |
Purdue University |
| Date | 2017 |
| Publication Title | Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare |
| Volume | 44 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Pages | 119-145 |
| ISBN/ISSN | 0191-5096 |
| URL | https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/jssw/vol44/iss3/7/ |
| Language | English |
| Additional Language | English |
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