New pet-friendly laws for aged care facilities

Written by Trudie McConnochie for Australian Seniors

From location to parking and everything in-between, many of us have a long list of requirements when looking for a new home. But when Sydney’s Carolyn Darell, 76, was moving with her husband, they only had one stipulation that was a major deal-breaker: their beloved dog, R2, had to be welcome. And since they were looking for a home in a retirement village, that wasn’t necessarily a given.

“I just wouldn’t have considered a place that we couldn’t take the dog to,” Carolyn says of her adorable 9-year-old West Highland White Terrier. “He’s part of the family.”

Retirement Villages Amendment Bill passed in Victoria

Just 18% of aged care facilities across Australia allow residents to keep a pet, forcing older people to bid their furry friends a heartbreaking farewell – but change is afoot. Earlier this year, the Victorian government passed the Retirement Villages Amendment Bill 2024, which includes a provision banning retirement villages and aged care facilities from rules that “unreasonably limit the keeping of a pet on a resident’s premises”.

Other states are yet to follow suit, but advocates are optimistic the law will soon be adopted nationwide.

Learn more about some of the benefits of pets in aged care homes.

Thankfully, the task of finding a retirement village that allowed pets wasn’t too stressful for Carolyn and her husband. Only one potential home was crossed off their shortlist for its anti-dog rules before the couple found Aveo Minkara Resort in the Northern Beaches, where dogs that meet certain size and behaviour criteria are welcome. Now, R2 spends his days sunning himself on one of their home’s two balconies and winning hearts while being walked around Minkara’s shared green spaces.

Carolyn says R2 brings her lots of joy, keeps her physically active with regular walks, and has helped her form connections to her neighbours. “It’s a fantastic way to meet people,” she says. “R2 is the sort of dog that if he sees a person coming, they’re instantly his best friend. His whole body wags and he smiles at them, and they go, ‘ohh’, and come over and give him a scratch behind the ears.”

The companionship of pets in retirement

Lyn Hardy, 72, also happily moved into Minkara with her 13-year-old Pomeranian, Coco. Describing her as a sweet, easy-going girl, Lyn says Coco is happiest snuggling into her lap on the couch. “People here don’t even know half the time that I own a dog, because she’s so quiet.”

Lyn hasn’t experienced any issues with other residents but says there was a “bit of friction” in the past when some residents weren’t picking up their dogs’ droppings from common green spaces – which has been resolved now. She says the companionship provided by her much-loved dog is significant. “I live by myself, and I’ve got my daughter and my grandchildren, and I’m a busy person, but there are other elderly people that don’t get to see their family very much, and to be able to have a pet for companionship is very important. It just helps you to still feel wanted.”

Editor’s note: Sadly, Lyn lost Coco to illness after we spoke to her. Her story and images are published with her permission.

Related: How to cope with losing a pet

Benefits of having a pet

Better heart health, fewer visits to the doctor, better social connectedness and lower feelings of stress are just some of the many wellbeing benefits associated with pet ownership. And in the second half of your life, those health boosts are even more valuable, says dog behaviourist Lara Shannon – especially when you’re downsizing to a retirement village.

“Having a pet can help reduce those feelings of loneliness and even anxiety and a bit of depression that might come in at that stage, particularly when moving into a new environment. It also gives a sense of purpose – it gives you a reason to wake up in the morning and get out and keep moving.”

Thinking of getting a pet? Read our blog City vs country pets: understanding the differences to see which breed of dog may suit your lifestyle. You can also learn more about the breeds that are most popular in our blog Australia's 2024 dog of the year.

A growing push for pet-friendly aged care

Lara worked with the Companion Animal Network of Australia (CANA) to lobby for the Victorian law change, and says having to leave behind a pet when you downsize into a retirement village or aged care facility can be incredibly distressing. “For many people, a pet is their family member and provides them with a lot of love and support,” she says. “A lot of them have already lost loved ones. The thought of going into aged care can be daunting enough as it is, without also having to give up a pet, making what’s already a challenging situation a lot harder.”

While Victoria is the only state where it’s illegal to unreasonably ban pets in retirement villages and aged care facilities so far, Trish Ennis, CEO of CANA, says the industry is becoming more aware of the benefits of housing residents’ pets, too.

“It’s still early to see measurable change since the new law passed, but interest is certainly growing. We’ve already distributed over 90 of our Pet Friendly Aged Care kits to retirement villages and aged care providers [across Australia] who requested them, and we expect even more requests in the coming months as awareness continues to grow.

“We hope other states will follow suit to ensure older Australians are never forced to choose between a home and their beloved companion animal.”

Fast facts: Why pets are good for us

The Australian Seniors Series: For the Love of Pets Report 2024 finds that:

• 95% of survey respondents say that pets have a positive impact on their emotional wellbeing
• 82% agree pets provide cognitive stimulation
• 89% believe pets provide a greater sense of purpose

Related: How pampered is your pet?

As more aged care providers embrace the benefits of pet-friendly living, older Australians may no longer have to choose between a safe home and their beloved companions. Whether it’s the joy of a wagging tail or the comfort of a quiet cuddle, pets can bring purpose, connection and wellbeing at every stage of life – and now, more than ever, they’re being recognised as part of the family.