Impact of pet ownership on elderly Australians' use of medical services: An analysis using Medicare data

Abstract

Objectives: To determine whether pet ownership by elderly people is associated with lower use of health services. Design: Survey of physical and mental health, and retrospective 12-month review of Medicare records of the number of general practitioner and specialist services. Participants and Setting: Elderly people living in Canberra (Australian Capital Territory) and Queanbeyan (New South Wales), surveyed in 1994 for the second stage of a larger longitudinal study. Results: Elderly pet owners did not differ from non-owners on any of the physical or mental health measures or in use of health services. Conclusion: Given the high use of health services by older people, our findings suggest that the claim that pet ownership leads to savings in health services should be viewed with caution. Show more