This article was about a group of volunteers along with therapy dogs called K-Nine Bandaiders that started visiting nursing homes and medical centers to help promote happiness in patients. The group started 20 years ago and has 28 members with 38 dogs that make 10 visits each month. Therapy dogs seem to be able to do some good in promoting mental wellness amongst some seniors in my study county. The first part of the story tells the unbelievable story of a woman waking from a 3 month long coma from a visit from a therapy dog. I would imagine nursing homes can sometimes be lonely and visits from both dogs and the volunteers would help to lighten people's day. I am happy to see that the group K-Nine Bandaiders has had so much success in finding dogs and volunteers to help keep area seniors happy. I personally grew up with dogs and enjoy having them around and I am sure many others do as well. Programs such as these can help to alleviate depression in the elderly, which can be pretty common in the older population, particularly in nursing homes and hospices.
http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120904/HEALTH/209040304/-1/HEALTH03
