Older adults lean on pets, even as costs strain care

Pets remain a major source of purpose and connection for older adults, but the financial side of caring for them is getting harder. New findings from the University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging show that 83% of pet parents age 50 and older say their pets give them a sense of purpose, while 31% say having a pet strains their budget. Among adults ages 50 to 80, that budget-strain figure is up sharply from 18% in 2018, even as the share saying pets provide purpose rose from 73% to 83%. The survey was fielded in September 2025 and released in February 2026. (ihpi.umich.edu)

The new poll updates a topic the University of Michigan last explored seven years earlier. Overall pet ownership among adults 50 and older was fairly stable, with 55% reporting they have a pet in 2025. Dogs remain the most common companion animal, reported by 70% of older pet parents, followed by cats at 50%. But while pet attachment remains strong, some perceived benefits softened compared with 2018: older adults in the newer poll were less likely to say pets help them enjoy life, feel loved, or reduce stress, even though purpose increased. (ihpi.umich.edu)

The poll also adds useful detail on where the pressure is landing. Older adults most likely to say pets strain their budget included women, those with annual household income under $60,000, people reporting fair or poor physical health, people reporting fair or poor mental health, and those with activity-limiting disabilities. In Michigan, where the poll team also analyzed a state sample, 38% of pet parents age 50 and older said pets strain their budget, compared with 31% in the rest of the U.S. (ihpi.umich.edu)

University of Michigan leaders emphasized both sides of the finding. Preeti Malani, M.D., a faculty collaborator on the poll and former poll director, said the two surveys show that animals can play “a key role” in older adults’ lives, but also noted that some of the people who may benefit most are also the ones facing cost-related barriers. Methodologically, the poll was based on a national household survey of U.S. adults ages 50 to 95, conducted online and by phone by NORC at the University of Chicago, with 2,698 respondents and a reported margin of error of roughly plus or minus 1 to 3 percentage points for full-sample questions. (ihpi.umich.edu)

The broader veterinary conversation makes these findings especially relevant. AAHA has highlighted that older clients and pet parents with disabilities can face compounded access barriers tied not only to cost, but also to transportation and mobility, and has pointed to options such as curbside support, telehealth, and house calls where appropriate. AAHA’s family-centered care framing also argues that practices should recognize the full socioeconomic context around veterinary decisions, rather than treating affordability as separate from quality care. (aaha.org)

There’s also a growing industry push to connect affordability with access-to-care strategy. Recent trade coverage and professional commentary have tied rising veterinary costs to delayed or declined care, and have promoted tools such as proactive cost conversations, financial planning, insurance discussions, and spectrum-of-care approaches. That doesn’t solve the underlying economics for every household, but it does suggest practices may need more structured ways to support older pet parents before a crisis visit forces an all-or-nothing decision. (aaha.org)

Why it matters: For veterinary teams, this is less a lifestyle story than a client-care signal. Older adults often rely on pets for routine, companionship, and emotional stability, which can raise the stakes when care becomes unaffordable or logistically difficult. Practices serving a large senior clientele may want to revisit how they present estimates, phase diagnostics and treatment when medically appropriate, discuss preventive care earlier, and connect pet parents with transportation, payment resources, or community support. AAHA’s senior care guidance also notes that financial constraints can intensify caregiver burden, alongside guilt, stress, and family conflict around treatment decisions. (aaha.org)

What to watch: The next step is whether these findings translate into operational changes, from more family-centered communication and house-call models to stronger partnerships with community organizations that already assist older adults with pet food, preventive services, transportation, and basic veterinary support. (aaha.org)