Older Adults and Animal Abuse

Older adults are considered a vulnerable population for many reasons including physical, cognitive, and psychiatric problems that increase with age. Additionally, using the Supplemental Poverty Measure, more than 7 million adults aged 65 or older in the United States were living below the poverty line in 2017 (Cubanski, Koma, Damico, and Neuman 2018). Increasing isolation or dependence on others for their care can leave older adults at greater risk of abuse or neglect; this is also true for their pets (Boat and Knight, 2000; Peak, Ascione, and Doney, 2012). As of 2017, 16% of the U.S. population was 65 years of age or older, and that percentage is predicted to increase rapidly in the future. As such, it is crucial that veterinary social workers are aware of and able to attend to the needs of this growing population. In this presentation, we will review the risk factors for abuse of older adults; explore the connections between elder abuse and animal abuse; and review methods both human and animal welfare professionals can implement as a means of assessment and intervention.

Ascione, F.R., Peak, T., & Doney, J. (2009). Animal welfare issues and elder adult maltreatment: A national survey. Presentation at 18th Annual Conference, International Society for Anthrozoology, Kansas City, MO, Oct. 20-23.

Boat, B.W. & Knight, J. C. (2000). Experiences and needs of Adult Protective Services case managers when assisting clients who have companion animals. Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect, 12( 3/4), 145-155.

1. Participants will be able to identify risk factors of abuse for older adults.
2. Participants will be able to identify two ways in which pets of older adults are at risk for abuse.
3. Participants will be able to identify warning signs of abuse.

Cubanski, Koma, Damico, and Neuman (2018). How many seniors live in poverty? Retrieved from: https://www.kff.org/medicare/issue-brief/how-many-seniors-live-in-poverty/ on 20 April 2020.