A treatment dog has actually started dealing with Marie Curie Belfast to help offer terminally ill clients a sense of normality and ease stress and anxiety.
Alistair King, creator of Therapy Dogs NI, and his golden retriever Sandi will now make weekly check outs to the hospice.
Therapy dogs have actually been revealed to have a series of advantages, consisting of decreasing tension levels, handling anxiety and even decreasing high blood pressure.
Mr King had a golden retriever called Rosie who was signed up with a treatment dog charity in the UK, prior to getting among her pups, Sandi, trained as much as take control of.
“We’re a self-supporting organisation that provides visits to nursing homes, schools, special schools, the hospice, the Marie Curie hospice now, free of charge,” he said.
“My wife and I are both partially retired civil servants, so we’ve got a bit of time on our hands, and it’s very rewarding to do the visits and take Sandi to see the people.”
As well as the hospice, Mr King and Sandi go to main schools, unique schools and assisted living home.
“It’s lovely to see, Sandi can sort of communicate with people, she’s got a knack of just looking people straight in the eye and giving them her paw and a hug,” he said.
Dogs go through training to end up being accredited as a treatment dog, however Mr King said the most essential active ingredient for a good treatment dog is their character.
“Guide dogs are working dogs, a therapy dog isn’t really as such a working dog,” he said. “A lot of it actually is down to the temperament of the dog in the first place. A lot of dogs wouldn’t be suitable to be a therapy dog.
“Sandi in particular, and her mother (Rosie) was the same, are very loving. They’re not aggressive at all, and very gentle. Even though she’s quite a big dog, she’s very gentle and it just seems to come to them naturally.”
Mr King said Sandi’s check outs can help lighten up the days of individuals they communicate with.
“A day in nursing care… is a long day. When somebody comes in with a dog that’s going to give you a hug and a bit of a pet, or somebody to talk to. You can talk to the dog or talk to me about the dog, and so on.
“Have a wee bit of conversation, it breaks the monotony, it generates a wee bit of communication, relationship and it’s a wee bit of normality almost.”
Eimear McCooey is the fundraising management lead for Marie Curie in Northern Ireland.
She said the treatment dogs plan has a series of advantages for individuals in their care.
“Whether Sandi visiting the hospice helps with reminiscing, or eases loneliness, and calms anxiety, the benefits of visits with hospice patients and their families are numerous,” she said.
“The opportunity to create these moments for patients at the end of life, and their family members, is priceless. Some patients need their spirits lifted with a little pleasure and laughter; others need quiet comforting.
“These furry visitors can be a non-judgmental listener or a quiet friend. Sandi sits calmly and lets patients and their families recollect and smile, offers them a paw but will also welcome a hug. She also brings a huge smile to our staff and everyone at the hospice.”
Ms McCooey said the charity’s cooperation with Therapy Dogs NI belongs to its care method that exceeds medical intervention.
“At Marie Curie our focus is on person-centred care, which means taking an holistic approach in caring for patients,” she said.
“The medical care is excellent but it’s equally as important to ensure that a patient’s mental, emotional and social needs are met.
“The positive impact pet therapy dogs have on the emotional wellbeing of patients can be remarkable.
“We’ve regularly had a patient’s pet come to visit or stay at the hospice as we know they hold a special place in our patient’s hearts. Being around animals can help reduce stress and bring back happy memories, and Sandi plays an important role at Marie Curie Belfast.”
