Identifying Home Safety Concerns Among Older Adults Aging With Pets

Assessing risks in pet owners' home environment may help develop strategies to enhance safety and well-being. The objective of this study is to uncover key themes informing the development of a home safety assessment tool for older adults with pets. A literature review and focus group interviews informed understanding of the safety concerns of older adults caring for pets. Participants were primary caregivers of a dog and/or cat (N = 30). Qualitative coding and analysis were guided by the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) model. None of the six included articles identified a tool for detecting pet care safety concerns. Focus group findings indicate pet behavior, care needs, and caregiving activities impact home safety, potentially affecting safely aging in place. This study highlights the need to address home safety with pets and identifies factors for increasing safety. Findings will inform tool development; further research is needed to refine and validate.