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
This seems like a wonderful idea and I am very glad to read that the program is going strong. Its amazing how simple things such as pets or music can really improve an individuals quality of living. I suspect that the employees at these nursing homes also get some benefit from the canine visitors. It most likely keeps moral high and combats depression and other adverse side effects of a stressful work environment.
ReplyDeleteThis article was very interesting! This sounds like a great program because pets can bring a lot of joy into our lives. You made a good point about those in nursing homes being depressed and this is a perfect way to cheer them up! It is nice that this group attends other community events, such as autism walks. I used to babysit for a family with 4 children affected by autism and I found it surprising how close they all were with their family dog.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading this article... animals can be so therapeutic, and its great to see that such simple things can make a bigger difference than expensive medical interventions and care. Also, just the community aspect of having such a program sounds great.
ReplyDeleteThis article resonates with me because of the positive reaction I have seen of my own grandmother to the therapy dogs. She is a stroke victim and resides in a nursing care facility in Smithtown in Suffolk County. The people who train the dogs are very giving people who not only love their dogs but understand the help they provide to the patients’ psychological well-being and in the case of the article, physical well-being as well. As stated in the article, the patients do reach out to the dogs no matter how limited they are physically and mentally. The dogs are carefully trained not to jump up and to remain on the side of the wheelchairs so that the patients can easily interact with them. Joshua is the name of the golden retriever who visits the facility and the owner has explained how the dogs are carefully chosen for their traits and are then bred to perpetuate the line. Pet therapy is a real healer and should be encouraged.
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