Fur, Fin, and Feather: Management of Animal Interactions in Australian Residential Aged Care Facilities

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Animals are seen frequently in Australian Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACF). Research has demonstrated that there are risks to residents and the animals involved, with few policies or guidelines to assist managers in developing RACF animal policies. Via survey and interview, we asked RACF managers how they managed the interactions between residents and animals in their facilities. While the majority of RACFs reported some level of policy, coverage was limited, potentially risking animal and/or resident safety. For example, many facilities had no policy around handwashing when handling animals, and many facilities allowed visitors to bring family pets onsite but had no rules to guide these visits. The results of this study suggest that RACF managers need access to guidelines for the inclusion of animals in their facilities to keep residents and animals safe. ABSTRACT: Animal-assisted interventions (AAI) have been occurring in Australian Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACF) for more than 40 years and may relieve loneliness and improve quality of life. The presence of animals in RACF poses an inherent risk to residents and the animals involved. Little is known about the policies and guidelines for including animals in the Australian RACF. We anticipated that most RACFs would have some policies, but they may lack the detail necessary to keep humans and animals safe. Using an adapted survey, we surveyed and interviewed a small but representative sample of Australian RACF managers. The results demonstrated that RACF did have animal policies; however, the content regarding the need for hand washing, infection prevention, and animal welfare was lacking. Including unregulated family pets in RACF was an unexpected additional risk factor identified during data analysis. There is a need for national guidelines tied to the national aged care policy, which includes training and educational resources for RACF and AAI providers.