IMPACT OF PET OWNERSHIP ON ELDERLY AUSTRALIANS USE OF MEDICAL-SERVICES - AN ANALYSIS USING MEDICARE DATA

Objectives: To determine whether pet ownership by elderly people is as sociated with lower use of health services. Design: Survey of physical and mental health, and retrospective 12-month review of Medicare reco rds of the number of general practitioner and specialist services. Par ticipants and Setting: Elderly people living in Canberra (Australian C apital Territory) and Queanbeyan (New South Wales), surveyed in 1994 f or the second stage of a larger longitudinal study. Results: Elderly p et owners did not differ from non-owners on any of the physical or men tal health measures or in use of health services. Conclusion: Given th e high use of health services by older people, our findings suggest th at the claim that pet ownership leads to savings in health services sh ould be viewed with caution.