Hospice Patients Find Unconditional Love in Caring Canines

Sounds of laughter, chatter and even song could be heard from the room of Hospice patient Marguerite Hunter at Sunrise Senior Living in Annapolis Monday afternoon.

The joy wasn’t brought about by a comical TV show or even people really—it came from a dog named Hailey.

Dogwood Acres Pet Retreat in Davidsonville recently teamed up with Hospice of the Chesapeake for its Caring Canines program. The goal of the program is to enrich the lives of those in the community who are suffering.

“I started Caring Canines with the mission of partnering with local organizations and teaming them up with pet therapy teams, so they could provide a peaceful presence and unconditional love to people in need,” said Dogwood Acres owner Audrey Reichardt.

About a year ago, Reichardt started Caring Canines to serve as a bridge for companion teams that either needed certification, or needed help finding an organization to work with. Now, Dogwood Acres has seven certified pet therapy teams.

Therapy dog Hailey and her handler Dee Muskin visited Sunrise Senior Living on Monday to spend time with Hunter, a Hospice patient. From the moment Hailey walked in the door, Hunter began sharing memories of her days on her uncle’s farm.

Hunter spoke of the animals she cared for when she was a kid, and even sang tunes to Hailey while she petted her.

Hospice Healing and Arts Coordinator Johanna Boyer said the Caring Canines program offers a therapeutic aspect to patient’s lives.  

“It just offers that unconditional love of a dog,” Boyer said. “It’s just the way [the patients] smile—the way they light up when they see the dog. You could see that with Ms. Marguerite…Just seeing that smile gives you goose bumps.”

Dogwood Acres Caring Canines program also works with the YWCA of Anne Arundel County, offering support to victims of domestic violence.

But it was being involved with Hospice patients that made Hailey’s handler, Muskin want to get involved.

“About two years ago my aunt was in hospice and my aunt loved [Hailey],” Muskin said. “So I took Hailey in and the first thing she did was put her paws on the bed and lay her head down so [my aunt] could pet her. While we were in that facility people just loved her.”

Hailey’s ability to help Muskin’s aunt in her time of need inspired Muskin to become involved with dog therapy, so the pair could continue to help others in need of a little unconditional love.

“It has been shown over and over again the healing these dogs can provide just by being there,” Reichardt said. “It really is a universal thing, and there is just something about that, that makes it so unique.”

For more information on volunteering with Caring Canines or with Hospice of the Chesapeake visit their websites. 

A Special Day for
Jill AND her friends! 

- by Nancy Dixon

As April 14th approached, I began to think about Jill's eleventh birthday.  With each year we cherish the time with her even more.  My thought process began  with "let's celebrate",  and progressed to "maybe a birthday party ."  The next question was "where would we have the party?"  At home would be nice, but where could  we share Jill's party?  Of course!!!! Jill's special friends that we  have visited every Monday for the last year and and half!  Colonial Manor Nursing Home!   The residents there wait faithfully every Monday for their Jill visit.  They have photos of her in their rooms, save morsels  off their lunch trays to share with her, and on occasion even have heated discussions over who  she likes best on any given day.   Perfect place!

After receiving permission from the Activities Director and assuring her that I would take care of everything, the planning began.   As with most things I do, it got a bit out of hand.  If one balloon was good, then  forty would be better.  The same with streamers, table decorations, and of course we needed cupcakes and ice cream with special birthday plates and napkins.   Everything grew from there, and the wonderful folks at Colonial Manor jumped right in to help.   Jill needed a birthday cake and a festive  collar.  We needed a piano because by now everyone knew about the party and was getting very excited.  They were making birthday cards for Jill and practicing the Happy Birthday Song.

Finally, April 14 arrived and the decorating began.   Excitement was high at Colonial Manor to say the least!!  The party began and was a huge hit.  Jill celebrated her birthday with 65 of her special friends, most in wheelchairs, but all with smiles on their faces.   The Happy Birthday Song was perfect, the cards were touching, and Jill even enjoyed licking the last  drops of ice cream off of  a few plates.   As the residents left the party,  I noticed several were clutching the special party napkins as keepsakes.     Yes, this was the perfect place. The residents are still talking about the party, and I will never forget the joy  that was in the party room that day.   I think Jill was even smiling.

 

Nancy Dixon and Jill

The Un-Scheduled Pet Therapy Moment - By Diane Rima

Sometimes Pet Therapy Days are scheduled appointments ~~ sometimes not.  And the “sometimes not” days are often some of the most memorable.  Whether planned or unplanned, one thing is always true,    Chester and I receive a kazillion times more than we give. This is the joy of  Pet Therapy and volunteering with KPETS.

On this particular day, Chester, my 4 yr old Golden Retriever and I, loaded up in the car and began a 40 minute drive to meet one of our scheduled appointments.  About 15 minutes into the drive I got a call, so I pulled over, took the call, and discovered sadly,  our appointment had been cancelled due to illness.  Bummer.

Rather than head home, Chester and I stopped in at nearby coffee house where doggies are always welcome.   It is kind of a funky place, (think 70’s and Hippies), very fun and as I said, pup friendly.  As fate would have it, just inside the front door, three women sat together having coffee  They were absolutely delighted to meet Chester and hear Pet Therapy tails. My sweet golden instantly warmed up to these sweet ladies and all of their attention.  As I talked story about the JOYS of Pet Therapy, Chester was in  heaven receiving countless head pats, ear rubs, and back massages.  They told me “Chester just made my day, we all need a bit of pet therapy, don’t we?….”

 Chester and I left the women to their coffee and conversation, and then ventured to the back garden and patio. It is here where the coffee-house-owners grow all of their own herbs and veggies and possibly other green plants that I won’t mention here.  Anyways,  seated in this patio garden was a group of traveling British Gentlemen who were so very excited to meet Chester.  More pats and backrubs for the boy. One of the men jumped into a lively conversation (you have to read this with a lively British accent and your pinky high in the air), “Oh my, is he a rescue dog?  I see he is in therapy!  I have a dog I’d like to get into therapy. ” And thus began our conversation that Chester is not IN therapy, but GIVES therapy.  I did not laugh out loud, and we had QUITE a lovely conversation.  Spot-on!

Chester, at this point, was thinking Hippie Coffee Houses were pretty dog-gone fun.  After waving g’bye to our British chaps, and heading out the door, one of the women (still having coffee) said, “Have you ever been to The Garden House?  It is a beautiful home for men and women with Alzheimer’s.  It’s just down the street.”    And so, off we trotted, around the corner and down the street.  I mean, why not?

Though unplanned and very spontaneous, we were welcomed at Garden House with open arms. We visited with the men and women in their common living area.  Many were responsive with smiles, puppy pats, and stories of their own dogs.  Things were pretty calm and mellow, until Chester spied four delicious green tennis balls attached to the bottom of a sweet little old lady’s walker.   He pawsed, he sniffed, he licked, he whined, he wagged, and then he BARKED.  Not a wimpy teensy bark, a WHOMPIN  WOOHOO let’s play BARK.  I jumped, and so did everyone else in the room --- I think we all leaked our panties (or depends), and then laughter erupted in the room.  So silly.  So good for the soul. 

From cancellations, to coffee, to quite lovely pet therapy talks, to peeing our pants with laughter, that was our day.  All unplanned (by us), but delightfully planned.   We are so blessed to do what we get to do.  Pet Therapy for all.  

How Animal-Assisted Therapy Services Benefit Cancer Patients

Animal-assisted therapy (also known as pet therapy) is one common option for improving participants’ mental – and physical – health. The therapy is popular among people with a wide range of conditions, and cancer patients are especially likely to benefit from the sessions.

After knowing their poor prognosis factors, cancer patients often find themselves dealing with feelings of fear, anxiety and depression. As the patients develop a bond with their therapy animal (and its handler), they may experience these complications on a less frequent – or less intense – basis. Often, this is the result of patients focusing their energy on a positive experience (the pet interactions) rather than the negative aspects of their diagnosis.

For advanced-stage cancer patients living in a hospice organization, animal-assisted therapy may help counteract feelings of isolation. Many patients become withdrawn or lethargic without regular interaction with loved ones; pet therapy sessions can help patients develop a bond with a familiar face. The therapy sessions often give patients something to look forward to on days that family or friends cannot stop by for a visit. In many cases, these benefits occur almost instantly. Many studies show improvements in patients’ overall mood and anxiety levels as soon as the therapy animal enters the room.

Physical Benefits

While animal-assisted therapy is best known for its emotional health benefits, cancer patients can also derive physical benefits from the sessions. Interestingly, most of the physical benefits are linked to the patient’s improved psychological well being.

The most common physical benefits include:
• Lower blood pressure levels
• More stable heart rates
• Decreased neurohormone levels
• Improved cardiovascular health

Additionally, pet therapy participants typically have a lower perception of their physical pain. This can drastically improve their quality of life, as well as their overall impression of their care experience. The pain-relief benefits may also make patients less likely to request dependency-inducing pharmaceutical painkillers.

Author bio: Faith Franz has spent nearly two years researching and writing for The Mesothelioma Center. As an advocate for alternative medicine, she encourages patients to explore all of the treatment options that could potentially save their life. 

Oldie but Goodie from 08/24/2008

Another Farmer Story

Yesterday was his Saturday to visit the kids at Lancaster Library. He always seems to get extra excited to go there, I think because this visit is a "light" visit, compared with the nursing home. I really think Farmer bears the weight of the nursing home on his shoulders sometimes. It is a much more serious place, so he looks forward to his time with the kids, just having some fun!

Because this library is in the heart of the city, we spend time with kids from all walks of life, sometimes they are with parents, sometimes just big brothers and sisters, sometimes they wander in by themselves, and I don't always know what their backgrounds or lives are like.

So, Farmer was busy with a brother and sister, ages about 7 and 3, mom was with them, things were going well...there was a boy quietly hanging in the background, watching. The little girl, 3-yr-old, was trying to "read" to Farmer so I didn't want to interrupt them, but Farmer just kept gravitating toward this boy. There were no parents with him, and he seemed shy. I, mistakenly, I might add (LOL) tried to interrupt Farmer's intentions and keep him with this little girl until she finished reading (although at 3, her attention span was not very long anyhow!)..but he kept INSISTING on going over to this little boy, so finally I wised up, and gave in to him...I asked the boy if he would like to get a book and read to Farmer, and his eyes lit up and he said YES!...so off he went to get a book...and meanwhile the 3-yr-old finished.

The boy came back with his book and sat with Farmer, after a few "face kisses" and some bonding, he started to read. I realized then that he was a very slow reader, and a little bit self-conscious about it. He was having some trouble with words, and I helped him when he got stuck, and at one point the 7-yr-old from the first family helped him...but, as children will be, the 7-yr-old, who was a much better reader, started asking him questions about how old he was, obviously showing his disbelief at how poor of a reader the other boy was.

But it didn't seem to matter, because right there was Farmer, and Farmer didn't care how long he took to read, or how many words he got stuck on, from the look on Farmer's face, this boy was the BEST reader in the whole wide world! So, the 7-yr-old got bored, and walked away, and next thing I know, the slow-reading boy and Farmer are sprawled across the floor, finishing their story.

It's at moments like these, that I realize that I am just merely a vessel...somehow I was chosen by God to shelter and feed this dog, so that he can go out into the world and do what he was always meant to do!

And I just sit back and watch, in wonder, as these little miracles happen...and for Farmer, its just all in a day's work!

Becki
York County

Oldie but Goodie from 04/22/2008

Sunday with Farmer

Just wanted to share a little story with you all about our visit yesterday. I'm not real good at standing up and sharing stories in front of everyone, but now that I have THIS avenue to share...well, you'll probably all be bored to tears with my stories before too long...LOL!

When Farmer and I started down our first hall at Susquehanna Rehab, we noticed that one of the guest rooms was overflowing with family. That usually means that someone is nearing the end of their time on this earth, and indeed, that was the case. I don't think it was someone that we visit regularly, didn't recognize the name, but the family was, obviously, distressed. We had stopped to visit another lady in a wheelchair, and it just seemed as though Farmer's presence was drawing all of these family members to him. They just kept coming over and hugging him, usually with tears, one of the women said, "Farmer, can you go into Room 7 and ask her please not to leave us yet?" and she started to cry. And there was a little boy who kept coming over to Farmer, I think for a short diversion from all the sadness, much of which he probably didn't really comprehend.

Farmer just sat there and quietly gave them what they each needed.

So, even though he couldn't provide therapy for the person in that room, he sure seemed like he was a huge help to her family.

Good boy, Farmer!
Becki
York County

Oldie but Goodie / 03/08/2008

That's One Big Cat!

This is one of those stories that you had to have been there. The sight of it was the funny part.

The activity director at Popsicle's facility had a special request for him to visit this particular elderly woman. She loved cats. So the director and I went in to her room with Popsicle. Other nursing staff followed behind us to watch. I'm thinking the resident must really love cats and the staff wants to watch her joy as she sees Popsicle.

The resident was a very very petite, adorable elderly woman. She was sitting in a chair and motioned to bring Popsicle over closer. Then she tried to pick Popsicle up! Remember, Popsicle is a very large 25 pound cat, and the resident was very very petite. I'd say Popsicle was 1/3rd her weight. The staff started laughing at the sight. (It dawned on me why they followed us in there.... they knew beforehand she wanted to hold this cougar-sized cat and they wanted to see that.) Of course she couldn't pick Popsicle up, so she wanted me to place him on her tiny lap. Well.... in order to do that, I had to fully extend my arms out, with a 25 pound (very cooperative!) big boy laying over my hands. I gently let his legs barely touch her lap (no way was I going to let his full weight on such a tiny person) and the resident made a little expression on her face.... like "uh-oh this guy is big! " I held my arms out, bearing Popsicle's full weight.... my arms shaking as his heaviness set in and my muscles were tiring. LOL The activity director and the staff in the room roared, watching me strain so this adorable petite woman could *pretend* she was holding Popsicle on her lap. She was so delighted to have *held* such a big boy.

I worked hard that visit! Which I am glad. Next time, she was no longer there. One of the sadnesses of our work.

Chris Helga & Popsicle
Perry County