Older adults say pets bring purpose, but costs are rising

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Pets still play a powerful role in healthy aging, but the economics are getting harder. A new University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging found that among adults ages 50 to 80, pets are increasingly tied to purpose and connection, even as more older pet parents say the cost of care is straining their budgets. The clearest shift: 83% of current pet parents said their animals give them a sense of purpose, up from 73% in 2018, while 31% now say pet care strains their budget, up from 18%. (ihpi.umich.edu)

The new data build on a 2018 version of the same poll, when older adults were more likely to describe pets as helping them enjoy life, feel loved, reduce stress, stay active, and stick to a routine. In 2025, those benefits were still widely reported, but at lower levels across several measures. The University of Michigan researchers note that the 2018 and 2025 surveys sampled different groups of adults, so this is not a longitudinal comparison of the same people. Even so, the pattern suggests that the emotional role of pets, especially around purpose, may be enduring or even strengthening, while financial pressure is becoming harder to ignore. (ihpi.umich.edu)

The survey found that overall pet ownership among adults ages 50 to 80 stayed fairly steady, at 57% in 2025 versus 55% in 2018. Dogs remained the most common pets, reported by about 70% of current pet parents over 50, followed by cats at 50%. But barriers to pet parenthood rose: 33% of older adults without pets cited cost as a reason, up from 21% in 2018, and more also pointed to lack of time or health limitations. Among current pet parents, budget strain was more common among women, people with fair or poor physical or mental health, those with disabilities that limit daily activity, and households earning under $60,000. (ihpi.umich.edu)

The poll’s authors and related coverage frame the findings as a tension between wellness gains and affordability. Kullgren said healthcare providers should ask about pets and even document that relationship in the medical record, because pets can shape routine, activity, social connection, and care planning. Outside the poll, the affordability concern is echoed in veterinary practice data: PetSmart Charities and Gallup reported in February 2026 that 94% of veterinarians said clients’ financial considerations sometimes or often limit their ability to provide recommended care. (ihpi.umich.edu)

That broader cost environment matters here. Reporting tied to recent economic analyses has pointed to sustained increases in pet-related expenses, including veterinary services, and to more pet parents delaying or declining care because of cost. For older adults, that pressure can be amplified by fixed incomes, disability, transportation barriers, and concern about future caregiving if they become ill or move into supportive housing. AAHA has previously highlighted outreach models for seniors, including mobile and community-based services, and recommended that veterinary teams keep assistance resources available when older clients raise concerns about cost or future pet care. (theweek.com)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, this is less a feel-good pet story than a client access story. Older pet parents may be deeply committed to their animals and derive real emotional and social benefit from them, but they may also be among the clients most vulnerable to deferred diagnostics, postponed preventive care, or treatment decline when estimates rise. Practices that serve large numbers of older adults may need to sharpen how they discuss costs early, offer staged or alternative care plans when medically appropriate, connect clients with payment or assistance resources, and train teams to talk about both finances and future care planning without stigma. (ihpi.umich.edu)

There’s also a welfare and ethics dimension. If pets are a major source of purpose and companionship for older adults, losing access to veterinary care can affect both animal health and human well-being. That creates a strong case for cross-sector thinking, including referral pathways between veterinary clinics, physicians, aging services, Meals on Wheels-style support programs, and local nonprofits that help with pet food, transport, or temporary foster care. This is partly an inference from the poll findings and senior-support models, but it fits the direction of current practice discussions around access to care. (ihpi.umich.edu)

What to watch: The next step is whether these findings translate into practical support, including more screening for pet-related financial strain, stronger community partnerships, and care models tailored to older adults who want to keep pets in their lives but are feeling the squeeze. (ihpi.umich.edu)