Leonard Morse Hospital Celebrates Dog Therapy Appreciation Day

News launch from Leonard Morse Hospital.

NATICK, MA — MetroWest Medical Center–Leonard Morse Hospital celebrates Dog Therapy Appreciation Day (April 11) to understand the dogs who consolation us by being remedy dogs. The behavioral well being drugs hospital in Natick presents a Pet Therapy program for sufferers.

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About Pet Therapy at Leonard Morse Hospital

Leonard Morse’s Pet Therapy program started in 2002 for the youngsters’s unit. It grew to become so well-liked serving to the younger behavioral well being sufferers that this system was expanded for adults.

At Leonard Morse Hospital, Occupational Therapists (OT) work within the behavioral well being items with youngsters, adults, and geriatric sufferers. Occupational Therapists run numerous group classes to show life and sensory abilities for coping methods. One of the group classes consists of Pet Therapy, the place educated dogs be part of the teams. The practitioner groups meet with sufferers one-on-one for instructional coaching reminiscent of anxiousness administration, sensory coaching, actions of day by day residing (ADL) coaching, amongst others. Therapists present purposeful and cognitive assessments to assist with discharge planning for these sufferers whereas collaborating as a part of an interdisciplinary staff that gives purposeful targets for sufferers. Our volunteer house owners with their therapy-trained dogs go to on a weekly foundation.

How Pet Therapy Helps

Prior to sufferers visiting with the dogs, employees posts an image and quick biography of the canine with info together with breed, origin and favourite hobbies. Patients recognize studying concerning the pets upfront of the group go to, as some sufferers could also be hesitant at first.

Pet remedy permits the sufferers to have interaction in several social setting and to attach with a therapy-trained canine that helps calm sufferers and interact with petting or enjoying with the remedy dogs. The dogs additionally present a way of home, whether or not youngsters are lacking their very own pets, or grownup and geriatric sufferers reminiscing a couple of favourite animal. Occupational Therapists lead the pet remedy group classes to permit sufferers to have interaction in a distinct social setting which will help them to turn into extra verbal with their emotions.

“Dogs are very comforting for our sufferers,” stated Kristie Bates, Leonard Morse Hospital Occupational Therapist. “They give unconditional love. Dogs do not frown at you. Some sufferers could also be initially cautious of the dogs. After watching fellow sufferers work together with the dogs within the group setting, many come round and begin petting and enjoying too, watching their methods and recognize their calming conduct,” stated Kristie. “To watch our patients open up and engage in more social settings while playing with the therapy dogs is wonderful to see.”

Geriatric Occupational Therapist at Leonard Morse Hospital Cheryl Roux explains her pet remedy classes, “We have multiple dogs that visit the units either on a weekly or monthly basis. The experiences with these pets and their owners have been wonderful and mutually beneficial. I remember a patient that was on our unit for approximately six months and the patient never took part in group therapy or engage with staff. Once he saw our therapy dog, his eyes lit up and he was able to open-up. We also have a child that is deaf but when the dogs come in, the patient quickly gravitates toward the dog and it a source of comfort. From my 6 years’ experience with Pet Therapy, I have noticed how the program has given some pet owners more purpose as they help others to heal.”

Below is a highlight of Jack Jack, considered one of Leonard Morse’s Certified Pet Therapy Volunteer Dogs: