A Qualitative Analysis of Management Perspectives on Seeking to Implement the Foster Cat Project in Residential Aged Care in the Context of COVID-19

Kellie-Ann Armitt, Janette Young () and Rose Boucaut
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Kellie-Ann Armitt: Allied Health and Human Performance, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
Janette Young: Allied Health and Human Performance, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
Rose Boucaut: Allied Health and Human Performance, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 20, issue 1, 1-15

Abstract: This study explores the challenges facing a pilot project aiming to foster homeless cats in an Australian residential aged care facility. The global COVID-19 pandemic stalled the project but also presented an opportunity to gain reflective insights into the perceived barriers, enablers and tensions involved in seeking to implement pet animal inclusion in residential aged care. Perspectives from aged care management, animal welfare services and researchers/project managers were all sought using semi-structured interviews, and themes developed using a qualitative descriptive analysis. Perceived barriers to the project before and after the pandemic were not dissimilar with four key themes emerging: competing priorities, risk and safety, resources, and timing. All existed differently across stakeholder groups creating tensions to be negotiated. These themes are then mapped to the competencies established by the International Union of Health Promotion and Education (IUHPE) for undertaking health promotion, demonstrating that this skill base can be drawn on when seeking to implement human–animal inclusive projects. Creating supportive healthful environments for frail older persons is a moral imperative of extended lives. Health Promotion skills as outlined in the Ottawa Charter and IUHPE competencies for health promotion workers need to be extended to include animal services, agendas and cultures to promote multi-species health promotion into the future.

Keywords: ageing; human–animal interaction; human–animal bond; innovation; multi-species; health promotion; Ottawa Charter; companion animals; pets (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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