PAWWS

Pets Also Work With Seniors

Volunteering with pets, or pet therapy, has seen a quick surge of popularity at Senior Smiles - many volunteers are now opting to come in with pets, and facilities are requesting them.

This isn’t surprising, since Senior Smiles strives to provide therapy based on senior interests, and studies have shown that seniors are less lonely with animals nearby.

Plus, many volunteers find it easier [see. The Pet Therapy Article] to connect with seniors when their pets are around. Even seniors with severe dementia reach out to animals!

Animals provide seniors with stimulation, love, and physical contact, as evidenced by studies about their psychological* and physilogical* benefits. The presence of animals truly enhances seniors’ quality of life!

If you have a calm and gentle pet that you would like to volunteer with, please check out our page on Pet Therapy requirements and guidelines.

Senior Smiles’ requirements for pet therapy animals are:

DOGS:

A good demeanor / non-agressive personality
Current vaccinations
A bath 24 hours prior to entering the facility
Being on a leash for the entire duration of the visit

CATS:

A good demeanor / non-agressive personality
Current vaccinations
A bath 24 hours prior to entering the facility
Being on a leash for the entire duration of the visit
Protective booties on paws for non-declawed cats

Elza is a new volunteer at Senior Smiles. She trots through the hallways of Bay Crest Care Center, a Torrence nursing facility, and stops to sniff the outstretched hands of seniors, allowing them to scratch her shaggy back and ears. She’s quite different from most of the other Senior Smiles volunteers because she walks on a leash, has a long tail and...isn’t human. But like most of the people who volunteer at nursing facilities, Elza is friendly and outgoing. Her presence causes quite a stir at the nursing home, and while a few seniors seem wary of the large10-year-old German Shephard, most smile and chat with her owner, Chelsea Edgecumb.

“It’s fun, and Elza looks forward to it now,” said Chelsea of volunteering with her dog. “At first I didn’t know if I was making an impact, but now people are expecting us, inviting us into their rooms.”

Chelsea is not the only volunteer who brings her dog to nursing homes. The Pet Therapy Program was started two months ago at Senior Smiles, and the concept has caught on quickly. Many nursing facilities now inquire about pet therapy, and the list of volunteers who bring their pets along is growing quickly.

Jill Pizitz-Hochstein, Senior Smiles Director, is not at all surprised about the surge of interest in the pet therapy program. Facilities are asking for pets because “seniors miss the stimulation and love they provide. Volunteers also like to bring a pet along when volunteering and helping seniors. So it’s a win-win situation,” she said.

The pet therapy program at Bay Crest Care Center seems to be going so well that Administrator Jennifer Sherwood is now considering getting a permanent pet resident for the facility.There has been positive feedback from residents about the kanine volunteer, she said. But even more telling is the physical response Sherwood has seen in patients with severe dementia. Chelsea also notices this response when she comes by with Elza. “Some of the seniors [ who seem really out of it ] will suddenly reach out and want to pet the dog. And that always amazes me,” she said.