Last month, the residents at The Manor at Penn Village received a very special visit from local therapy dogs. Making their debut at the building, it was not the first time the dogs came to see the residents. Earlier this year, during quarantine, the therapy dogs stopped by the care center for a very exciting window visit. This time, their owners were able to safely enter the building and walk through the main hall stealing great smiles from the residents and staff. It was lovely to see our residents enjoying the day with this paw-some visit.
Therapy animals have long been recognized as being a positive force in healing and controlling anxiety. Since therapy dogs are trained to be attentive to a person’s needs and offer unconditional love, they can often stabilize intense emotions. According to the Therapy Dogs of Vermont Organization, the role of these companions is to react and respond to people and their environment under the guidance and direction of their owners. For example, an individual might be encouraged to gently pat or talk to a dog to teach sensitive touch and help them be calm.
Some other benefits of therapy dogs visiting a long-term care center include:
– Bringing joy and laughter while breaking routine
– Giving the person something to do, talk about and think about, other than him or herself
– Providing a source of touch and affiliation
– Heightening self-confidence, esteem, and a sense of achievement
– Increasing communication between elderly residents and neighbors
– Helping newcomers meet new friends
– Boosting overall morale
– Stimulating exercise and activity
At The Manor at Penn Village, everyone benefited from the visit of their canine friends. It was an exciting day for the residents as they were able to share stories of their past pets and get some puppy love. Thank you to the owners for bringing their companions to share some of their love.
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CHC