The Importance of Keeping Older People and Their Companion Animals Together: The Bob Harvey Award
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“There’s by no means been a cat like Freddie”: The significance of maintaining older individuals and their companion animals collectively
The Bob Harvey Award, collectively created by The Society for Companion Animal Studies (SCAS) and Fostering Compassion, recognises a care residence, hospital, hospice, or care facility that has gone above and past the decision of obligation to maintain older individuals and their companion animals collectively.
Nominations are welcomed from anybody who’s conscious of any facility (anyplace on the planet) worthy of consideration. The winner shall be chosen by a panel of consultants and shall be introduced on the annual SCAS conference on 20 October 2024.
The story of Bob and his little canine Darcie illustrates why it’s so essential to guard the human-companion animal bond.
Following a change in administration, Bob was given the devastating information that Darcie was not allowed to remain within the residence with him and that if he didn’t “get rid” of him, they confronted eviction. He couldn’t bear to be parted from his trustworthy companion so, on the age of 87, he endured yet one more traumatic upheaval as he and his little canine moved out of the care residence and right into a modest bungalow. Read or listen to Bob’s full story, informed by Fostering Compassion founder, Lesley Winton.
There is rising acceptance now that folks and their pets shouldn’t be parted when individuals want to maneuver to supported dwelling settings. This is a really critical difficulty. A survey by Anchor Housing Trust discovered that yearly some 140,000 pets owned by older individuals are surrendered after they transfer to supported dwelling.
Readers can encourage finest apply by changing into acquainted with SCAS sources (see “Resources & Further Reading” beneath).
You may also like to affix our upcoming SCAS Webinar by Professor Sam Hurn, who will talk about the findings of her SCAS-funded examine investigating the implications of care residence pet insurance policies for the well being and wellbeing of aged people and their companion animals. Book your ticket here (a recording is obtainable to registered contributors).
The Bob Harvey Award was created in reminiscence of Bob and his little canine, Darcie. However, the bond between individuals and their cats may be equally robust.
SCAS Chair, Dr. Elizabeth Ormerod (BVMS), shares the story of Edith Thompson and Freddie the cat:
Edith and Derek Thompson had been an older couple who had loved the companionship of canine all through their lives. Some months after Trudy their final canine had handed, Edith and Derek got here to my surgical procedure to thank me for having been their veterinarian and to share that they’d determined to not undertake one other canine as they wouldn’t have the ability to present her or him with sufficient train.
This was a caring determination; they’d all the time put their animal companions first. Had they given any considered adopting one other species I requested. No, they’d no expertise of others and hadn’t given any such consideration. When I instructed they give thought to adopting a cat they appeared perplexed and responded that they’d by no means had a cat and didn’t assume they’d get on as they had been “canine individuals”. I defined about the necessity to nurture, and the well being advantages of caring for companion animals. I used to be certain that they might develop a loving relationship with a cat, and that we had some grownup cats prepared for adoption in the event that they’d like to fulfill them. They returned just a few days later after giving this some thought. I guided them in the direction of a middle-aged ginger boy with a delicate temperament, and so they fell for him. It was an ideal match and a robust bond developed. During surgical procedure visits they might wax lyrical about Freddie, their wonderful cat.
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“There’s by no means been a cat like Freddie. He can play ping pong; he watches snooker and he may even retrieve!”
Sadly, Derek handed away just a few years later. Freddie was an ideal consolation to Edith, and his companionship turned much more necessary. He was somebody to speak to and was her final dwelling hyperlink with Derek. Edith lived close to the surgical procedure and would typically pop in for a chat and provides updates on Freddie’s accomplishments.
Then Edith turned incapacitated. Her GP got here to see me and defined that Edith wanted to be admitted to a nursing residence however was refusing to be separated from Freddie. He requested if I might get permission from a nursing residence to confess Freddie. At that point, none of our native nursing properties permitted private pets. I organized to fulfill the Matrons of a number of properties to clarify the necessity for Edith and Freddie to stay collectively.
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Fortunately, one of many Matrons was persuaded and they also had been capable of be within the residence collectively. On my later visits to see them, the Matron cheerfully shared that Freddie was no hassle, he was a pleasure.
The Marton stated: “Freddie is a good consolation to Edith, he likes to snuggle up along with her and be stroked. He comes into the residents’ lounge and his presence lightens our temper. He’s an ideal favorite with everybody. He promotes dialog – and encourages memory. People speak in regards to the animals with whom they’ve shared their lives. And guests say he makes the place extra homely. Little Freddie makes such a distinction to Edith, and us all.”
– Dr Elizabeth Ormerod (BVMS)
Until such practices change into the norm, we have to encourage and have fun care services just like the one which accommodated Edith and Freddie.
The Society for Companion Animal Studies (SCAS) and Fostering Compassion created this particular award in reminiscence of Bob Harvey and his beloved canine Darcie. Each yr the award shall be introduced to a care residence, hospice, hospital, or care facility that has finished above and past the decision of obligation to maintain older individuals and their beloved companion animals collectively.
Do you recognize of a care facility worthy of consideration for the 2024 Bob Harvey Award?
Gee NR, Mueller MK, Curl AL. Human-Animal Interaction and Older Adults: An Overview. Frontiers in Psychology. 2017 doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01416.
International Federation on Ageing Report: Companion Animals and the Health of Older Persons. Download report here.
The SCAS Code of Practice in AAI explains how companion animals may be safely launched to well being and social care services: AAI Code of Practice (UK) | SCAS
The SCAS Submission to the Commission on Loneliness: The Role of Companion Animals in Mitigating Loneliness and in Supporting Healthy Ageing. Download report here.
The SCAS-funded SAFE Toolkit supplies a guidelines for the introduction of assorted species to care services for older individuals.
Follow us on FB and Twitter (@SCASuk), and you should definitely retweet posts from us and our companions on #PetsInHousing
SCAS is the UK’s main human-companion animal bond organisation by means of funding analysis, offering schooling, elevating consciousness, encouraging finest apply, and influencing the event of insurance policies and practices that help the human-companion animal bond. For extra particulars try our web site at www.scas.org.uk
