Animal (non-human) companionship for adults aging in place during COVID-19: A critical support, a source of concern and potential for social work responses

This reprinted chapter originally appeared in Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 2020, 63[6-7], 702-705. (The following of the original article appeared in record 2021-00510-030.) In this letter, we present a case for why and how social workers who work with older adults should assess and respond to human-pet interaction;while important on a routine basis, given the current pandemic situation and subsequent increases in isolation experienced by older adults, it is especially crucial to be responsive to their relationships with pets as potential strengths, stressors or both. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)