Browsing by Author "Toohey, Ann Madeline"

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Carving out a place for “pets” within the age-friendly agenda: A case study exploring the public health implications of companion animal relationships for older adults who are aging-in-place
    (2018-01-17) Toohey, Ann Madeline; Rock, Melanie June; Adams, Cindy; Hewson, Jennifer
    Growing numbers of people surpass the age of 65 each year, and a widely adopted response has been to work towards making communities more “age-friendly,” as per the World Health Organization’s age-friendly policy framework. Within this framework, there is no explicit reference to older adults’ relationships with companion animals (“pets”), even as pet-ownership is prevalent among older adults in many countries worldwide. Thus my research aimed to explore, from a socio-ecological perspective, the extent to which growing efforts to promote aging-in-place by adopting an age-friendly policy framework may also be influencing the health-promoting potential of relationships between older adults and their companion animals. To achieve this aim, I conducted an ethnographic multiple case study set in Calgary, Alberta, between November 2014 and October 2016. This approach allowed me to explore these influences at both the national and local population levels. My case study entailed three methodologically distinct, yet conceptually linked, research components: (i) a statistical analysis of associations between social participation and life satisfaction for older pet owners and non-owners participating in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA); (ii) a thematic content analysis of local community-based social support and animal welfare agencies’ experiences of serving older adults with companion animals; and (iii) a dialogical narrative analysis of the housing transition challenges described by lower income older adults who were aging-in-place with a companion animal. In synthesizing the findings of each component, my thesis concludes that companion animal relationships may, in some circumstances, confound efforts to promote age-friendly communities in ways that are equitable. Consideration for companion animals is merited across several domains of age-friendliness. The negative consequences of omitting consideration for older adults’ relationships with companion animals from age-friendly efforts may be unfairly borne by those who are experiencing socio-economic disadvantages and social isolation as they age-in-place. This omission may unintentionally serve to impede the health-promoting benefits of animal companionship later in life. A reversal of this situation could help to contribute to health equity and social justice for the growing numbers of older adults who are aging-in-place, and for their companion animals.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Neighbourhoods, dogs and walking: An exploration of factors relevant to healthy aging in place
    (2013-10-10) Toohey, Ann Madeline; Rock, Melanie; McCormack, Gavin
    The aims of this thesis were to: 1) understand factors related to healthy aging of older adults living in urban environments (i.e., aging in place); and 2) contribute to the evidence-informed case for viewing dogs as contributing to neighbourhoods in ways that may influence healthy aging in place. A scoping review of diverse literatures suggested that dogs may increase physical activity for both dog-owners and non-owners, but that dogs will not have a standard effect across all neighbourhoods. An analysis of data for a sample of older adults (50 yrs and older) living in Calgary, Canada, found that the dog-owners who frequently walked dogs (4 times/wk or more) reported more neighbourhood-based recreational walking and high sense of community relative to non-owners. Interventions promoting dog-walking in neighbourhoods, while supporting the specific walking needs of older adults, may help support healthy aging in place.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Neighbourhoods, dogs and walking: an exploration of factors relevant to healthy aging in place
    (2012) Toohey, Ann Madeline; Rock, Melanie; McCormack, Gavin Robert
    The aims of this thesis were to: 1) understand factors related to healthy aging of older adults living in urban environments (i.e., aging in place); and 2) contribute to the evidence-informed case for viewing dogs as contributing to neighbourhoods in ways that may influence healthy aging in place. A scoping review of diverse literatures suggested that dogs may increase physical activity for both dog-owners and non-owners, but that dogs will not have a standard effect across all neighbourhoods. An analysis of data for a sample of older adults (250 yrs) living in Calgary, Canada, found that the dog-owners who frequently walked dogs (24 times/wk) reported more neighbourhood-based recreational walking and high sense of community relative to non-owners. Interventions promoting dog-walking in neighbourhoods, while supporting the specific walking needs of older adults, may help support healthy aging in place.