What we do &

Why we do it

Animals for Elders is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to enriching lives through the power of animal companionship. We provide funding to people aged 70+ so they can welcome a domestic animal into their lives, reducing loneliness, increasing well-being, and giving shelter animals a second chance at a loving home

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our mission

We help elders find joy in welcoming a shelter pet into their lives by removing financial barriers.

How We Help

How Animal for Elders Makes it happen

AFE was founded in 2022 by Carrie Van Wert, founder of Kitty Sift® and a shelter volunteer. What began as connecting seniors with animals in need has grown into a mission that changes lives on both ends of the leash. At its core, AFE removes the financial barriers that often prevent seniors from adopting and caring for a pet.

Our Values

Purpose: We believe people of all ages deserve to feel fulfilled in their lives and have a sense of purpose

Humanity: Being human is a beautiful thing, and this involves all stages of life.

Joy: We want to bring joy to as many people as possible.

Dignity: People deserve to have agency over their actions and to age with dignity.

Community: It takes a village, and we want to be part of the support system that other villagers need.

Our Approach

Thoughtful: compatible matches based on lifestyle & temperament.

Supportive: ongoing financial assistance for pet ownership.

Collaborative: working alongside shelters & communities.

We Provide

  • Adoption fees covered

  • Post-adoption vet care

  • Qualifying annual expenses

  • Up to $1,500 per year

OUr story

Animals for Elders (AFE) was founded in 2022 by Kitty Sift® founder, entrepreneur, and dedicated shelter volunteer Carrie Van Wert. What began as a simple idea: connecting seniors with animals in need, has grown into a mission to create meaningful companionship that changes lives on both ends of the leash.

At its core, AFE removes the financial barriers that often prevent seniors from adopting and caring for a pet. By working directly with participating shelters, we make adoption not only possible but sustainable.

    • Adoption fees

    • Post-adoption veterinary care

    • Qualifying annual expenses up to $1,500 per year

  • We believe the right match makes all the difference. AFE partners with shelters and caregivers to ensure that both the senior and the animal are set up for long-term success.

    Our approach is:

    • Thoughtful – prioritizing compatible matches based on lifestyle, ability, and temperament

    • Supportive – providing ongoing financial assistance to ease the responsibility of pet ownership

    • Collaborative – working alongside shelters, communities, and advocates

  • Everything we do is guided by a few simple but powerful beliefs:

    • Compassion – Every senior and every animal deserves connection, care, and dignity

    • Dignity in Aging – Companionship is not a luxury; it’s essential to wellbeing

    • Second Chances – Shelter animals deserve loving homes, and seniors deserve the joy they bring

    • Community Impact – Stronger human-animal bonds create stronger communities

  • Animals for Elders was born from firsthand experience in shelters, seeing both the number of animals in need of homes and the number of seniors who would benefit deeply from companionship, but lacked the financial means.

    Our Founder, Carrie Van Wert, saw an opportunity to bridge that gap.

    By combining her background as an entrepreneur and her passion for animal welfare, she created AFE to be a simple, scalable solution: fund the connection, support the relationship, and let the impact ripple outward.

“We are just beginning our journey to help enrich the lives of animals and elders. Please join us!”
— Founder, Carrie Van Wert

  • Research has linked social isolation and loneliness to higher risks for a variety of physical and mental conditions: high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, a weakened immune system, anxiety, depression, cognitive decline, Alzheimer’s disease, and even death.

    —NIA (National Institute on Aging)

  • Loneliness acts as a fertilizer for other diseases. The biology of loneliness can accelerate the buildup of plaque in arteries, help cancer cells grow and spread, and promote inflammation in the brain leading to Alzheimer’s disease. Loneliness promotes several different types of wear and tear on the body.

    — Dr. Steve Cole, Ph.D., Director of Social Genomics Core Laboratory, University of California

  • Florence Nightingale discovered in the 19th century the physiological benefits of contact with a pet help reduce anxiety and increase relaxation. A beloved pet provides companionship, security, purpose and reduces stress to promote peace in seniors burdened by worry and anxiety over health, finances and other concerns.

    —American Journal of Critical Care