For most Australians, pets are more than companions. They are family. They bring comfort, routine, and unconditional love. For older Australians, that bond becomes even more significant. It is a lifeline.
The Companion Animal Network Australia (CANA) has released its 2025 Aged Care Survey Results, revealing powerful insights into how pets shape the emotional, social, and commercial fabric of aged care. The message is clear: Australians overwhelmingly want pets to be part of aged care.
Australians Want Pet-Friendly Aged Care
According to the survey, 96% of Australians believe residents in aged care should be allowed to own pets, yet only 18% of facilities currently make this possible.
Even more striking, only 1% of people believe pets should not be allowed in aged care settings at all.
This growing gap between what people want and what is being delivered presents both a moral opportunity and a market one. The demand for pet-friendly aged care is not just a matter of compassion; it is a call for innovation.
Emotional and Health Benefits Are Undeniable
The data reinforces what many already know: pets make life better.
Respondents highlighted the top benefits of pet ownership in aged care as:
Reducing loneliness and improving mental and physical health
Maintaining the lifelong bond between owner and pet
Helping ease the transition into aged care
Encouraging companionship and social connection
In-home care participants echoed the same sentiment. Sixty-eight percent said their pets reduce loneliness, and many described their pets as their “reason to get up in the morning.”
As one participant shared, “The gentle loving presence of a dog is simply irreplaceable.”
Barriers Still Stand in the Way
Despite overwhelming support, aged care facilities still face hurdles.
Key challenges identified include:
Lack of formal policies for live-in or visiting pets (78% and 59% respectively)
Funding limitations to adapt facilities for pets
Staff shortages and education gaps about the benefits of pet ownership
Health and safety concerns or management resistance
These issues are real but not insurmountable. And where there are challenges, there is also room for growth and leadership.
A Commercial Opportunity in Compassion
The emotional argument for pet-friendly aged care is compelling, but there is also a strong business case.
Facilities that embrace pet-inclusive policies stand out. They:
Differentiate themselves in a competitive aged care market
Attract more residents seeking a sense of home and connection
Build stronger, happier communities
Foster positive media and public engagement
As CANA President Melissa Penn explains, the goal is not only to recognise the human–animal bond but to influence policy and practice that keeps people and pets together as they age.
Progress and Advocacy in Action
CANA’s Pet Friendly Aged Care Program is already driving real change.
Recent achievements include:
Developing Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) kits to help facilities safely integrate pets
Advocating for companion animals to be recognised in Home Care Package laws
Lobbying for pet support to become a claimable item under aged care funding
These are important steps toward a future where no one has to give up their beloved companion to receive care.
Building a Pet-Friendly Future
Australia is a nation of animal lovers, and as our population ages, that love should not have an expiry date.
By rethinking aged care design, policy, and culture, we can ensure pets remain part of the journey at every stage of life.
Whether you work in aged care management, policy, or pet welfare, the opportunity is the same:
Create spaces that value the bond between people and their pets. It is not just kind-hearted; it is smart business.
