Animals for Elders

10/29/2026

Every nonprofit starts with someone who couldn't look away from a problem. For Animals for Elders, that someone is our founder, Carrie Van Wert, and the problem had been sitting in plain sight for years before she decided to do something about it.

Read the full blog on our website. If you or someone you know could use help adopting a companion, please visit www.animalsforelders.org and apply for funding - it's free!

Animals for Elders began with a volunteer, a neighbor, and a gap nobody else was filling. Here's Carrie's story, and how AFE came to life.

10/13/2026

How AFE's Grant Program Works: A Plain-Language Walkthrough of the $1,500/Year Assistance Process (Visit our blog!)!

We hear a version of the same story often: a senior wants a companion animal, or has already fallen for one at a local shelter, and the only thing standing in the way is the cost. Not the willingness to care for a pet. Not the desire for companionship. Just the math of an adoption fee, a first vet visit, and a bag of food landing on a fixed income all at once.

That's the gap Animals for Elders exists to close. Our grant program covers up to $1,500 a year in approved pet expenses for adults 70 and older, and we know the process can feel like a mystery from the outside.

So here's exactly how it works, from who qualifies to what happens after you hit submit:

A step-by-step walkthrough of how Animals for Elders' grant program helps seniors 70+ afford pet adoption and care, up to $1,500 a year. Here's exactly how it works.

10/06/2026

More than half of adults 50 and older share their home with a pet, and a 2025 University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging found that 57% of adults 50 to 80 currently own one.

The benefits are real: 83% of those pet owners say their pet gives them a sense of purpose, and 44% say their pet keeps them more physically active.

But the poll also found something worth pausing on. None of those benefits are automatic. They depend heavily on choosing a pet that actually fits the life the person already has, not the life they wish they had more energy for.

Learn more with one of our latest blog posts!

A practical guide to matching a pet's energy level, size, and exercise needs to your own mobility and daily routine, plus how AFE can help you choose well.

09/30/2026

Meet Zara, Carrie's right-hand gal and a dedicated member of the Animals for Elders team!

Zara and our founder Carrie met this past December at a retreat in Costa Rica. What started as a conversation about their lives turned into Carrie realizing she'd found exactly the right person to help get her dream of AFE off the ground.

Zara has spent her career working with grassroots nonprofits, sustainable brands doing good in the world with her business called Zarpal Media, and animals, so it truly was the perfect match. 😊

Pictured here is Zara and her mom with her late grandmother, who she believes would have benefited deeply from having a companion animal later in life. It's a big part of why this mission resonates with her so much.

😻 Zara is a lifelong animal lover with a background in conservation, and at home she's owned by her orange cat, Carl (she'll admit she's a little biased toward orange cats).

We're so glad to have her helping bring Animals for Elders to life.

2026 applications are open for financial aid; head over to the website Zara built to learn more! Applying is 100% free!

09/23/2026

Get to know our small but mighty team! Meet Carrie, the founder and Executive Director of Animals for Elders (AFE)!

She's the person behind everything we do here, and she is exactly as fun as you'd hope. A few things you should know about her: her love for animals and older adults runs in the family (that's her with her grandmother). 🩷

Carrie is also a bona fide pet industry pro thanks to her recently launched brand, Giddy Kitty, where she rocked it at SuperZoo, one of the country's biggest pet industry conferences.

Carrie built AFE because she saw two of her favorite things, animals and older adults, needing each other. We're so glad she did!

Stay tuned as we introduce you to more of the humans making AFE happen. 🐾

PS: 2026 applications are open for financial aid. Apply for free on our website!

09/18/2026

Exciting news! We are officially set up with MightyCause! 🥰 You can now make a secure donation to our charity page using https://www.mightycause.com/organization/Animals-For-Elders or visiting our donate now page at https://www.animalsforelders.org/donate

Support seniors by donating to Animals for Elders, helping connect them with loving pets and providing essential care for shelter animals. Make a difference today.

09/17/2026

No senior should have to experience isolation, and no companion animal should be left behind.

At Animals for Elders, we bridge the gap by helping older adults adopt, care for, and keep their beloved pets. From covering veterinary care and pet food to providing hands-on volunteer support, we work to keep seniors and their companions healthy, happy, and together.

Every animal saved brings companionship, purpose, and daily joy to an elder in need.

Learn more on our website about applying for sponsorship or getting involved. www.animalsforelders.org

09/09/2026

Did you know pet owners 60+ are 36% less likely to report feeling lonely? 🐾

The research on pet companionship and aging keeps stacking up: less loneliness, lower blood pressure, steadier daily routines. We rounded it all up on the blog this week, along with how AFE helps seniors afford the vet bills and supplies that come with a new best friend.

Pet companionship lowers loneliness and blood pressure in older adults, and builds daily routine. See the studies and how AFE can help.

09/03/2026

Pets do more than keep us company, they support mental sharpness, lower stress, and keep us moving. Swipe through to see how a shelter pet could make a real difference in a senior's life.

💙 Animals for Elders matches shelter pets with adults 70+, because everyone deserves a companion. Applications for financial support are open! Share this with a loved one or check out our website to learn more!

08/26/2026

Happy International Dog Day from all of us at Animals for Elders. Wagging tails make the world a brighter place. 💛