Life Experiences of Caring for Pets Among Taiwanese Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Pets as an Integral Part of the Family and Beyond.

The purpose of the current study was to use grounded theory to explore the experiences of caring for pets from the perspective of Taiwanese community-dwelling older adults. Twelve participants ages 65 to 73 were interviewed. Data were analyzed using the constant comparative method of qualitative analysis. Pets as an integral part of the family unit and beyond was the core category. The pet becomes part of my family was identified as the antecedent condition; this process undertakes action and interaction among the categories of the pet is part of my daily life, the pet provides positive life energy, and the pet is a sweet companion. Older adults believe caring for pets can bring them self-affirmation and lead them to blessings and luck. The results provide a framework to understand the experiences of older adults who reside with their pets, and serve as a guide for the design of animal-assisted therapy in future research and practice. [Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 43(1), 44-49.].