What are the experiences, views and perceptions of pet ownership as experienced by older adults living in institutional care settings in the United Kingdom?

This scoping review aims to understand the current state of the literature on the topic of the experience of older adults and the relationship between pet ownership, institutional care living, and the barriers and facilitators to this. Understanding experiences are essential for promoting the wellbeing of older adults through the aging process, an important area of research given global population aging, including enabling individuals to maintain ownership of their pets when transitioning to institutional care. Understanding these experiences may help to guide future policy, guidance and practice, nationally and at an individual care home level. This scoping review will systematically map the available evidence in this area, with a focus on synthesizing key findings, as well as identifying gaps in knowledge and areas for further investigation. I expect to find that older adults’ experience of pet ownership in institutional care settings is a positive experience and brings with it many psychosocial benefits, but will not be without its difficulties in relation to national policy and guidance.