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Supporting Social Connections for Older Adults: Pet Assistance Programs Fact Sheet

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Pets provide seniors with invaluable companionship. However, many older adults struggle to care for their furry friends due to limited finances, physical limitations and other challenges. Fortunately, the Meals on Wheels network keeps clients and their animal companions together by delivering pet food in many communities and providing access to free or discounted veterinary care, grooming and other vital services.

This report offers more insight into Meals on Wheels’ pet assistance programs, highlighting the positive effects on seniors’ lives and the obstacles they face in caring for their pets. Data has been collected from external sources as well as a telephone survey conducted of clients with pets.

Key Findings

Older adults are at a high risk of social isolation and loneliness. 

  • 56% of seniors are lonely.1
  • Social isolation is associated with negative health outcomes, ranging from cardiovascular disease to anxiety and depression.2

I can’t imagine life without Ruby. She is always here to cheer me up and keep me company. Meals on Wheels client

Pets provide older adults with vital social connection. 

  • 100% of Meals on Wheels clients believe their pet brings happiness to their life. 3
  • Clients with pets reported higher social engagement with family and friends than clients without pets.4

Seniors struggle to care for their animal companions. 

  • 1 in 2 Meals on Wheels clients reported being unable to access either preventative or sick/emergency veterinary care.5
  • The primary barriers are cost and transportation.6

I am on a fixed income, and it is very hard for me to keep food on the table for myself, let alone my dog. Meals on Wheels client

Senior pet owners face impossible choices. 

  • More than 1 in 5 report going without food themselves to feed their pets.7

Client Lois with Pet Cat

I am so blessed to have found her. I think we both needed each other, and I give thanks for her every day. Meals on Wheels client

Meals on Wheels pet programs keep older adults and their pets together.

  • Local Meals on Wheels providers offer services such as pet food delivery, dog walking and emergency boarding. 
  • 97% of clients say that Meals on Wheels support makes it possible to keep their pets.8

 

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Citations

  1. Health and Retirement Study (HRS), sponsored by National Institute on Aging and conducted by University of Michigan.
  2. Meals on Wheels America. Prepared by Brown University. (2023, June). Effective solutions to address social isolation and loneliness through Meals on Wheels. Meals on Wheels America.
  3. Meals on Wheels America, & Arizona State University. (2022). Pets comparison study (Unpublished internal document).
  4. Meals on Wheels America, & Arizona State University. (2022). Pets comparison study (Unpublished internal document).
  5. Meals on Wheels America. Prepared by Adisa with funding from PetSmart Charities (2021). Pet programming and client needs assessment.
  6. Meals on Wheels America. Prepared by Adisa with funding from PetSmart Charities (2021). Pet programming and client needs assessment.
  7. Meals on Wheels America. Prepared by Adisa with funding from PetSmart Charities (2021). Pet programming and client needs assessment.
  8. Meals on Wheels America. (2021). Meals on Wheels loves pets 2021 client outcome survey (Unpublished internal document).

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