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The Magic Power
(continued)
This past Fall, Baptist Health System partnered with
Peaceful Acres Horses – a not-for-profit Sanctuary for Horses
and People located in Schenectady, to bring a group of
residents and patients out for a day on the farm as part of
Peaceful Acre’s Horse Hugs Field Trip Program. The group
that went on the trip enjoyed a day of smiles and emotional
connection, not only with the horses, but with each other.
The trip included a picnic lunch and plenty of time with some
of the equine residents at Peaceful Acres.
“There was really something quite amazing about witnessing
the interaction between our elders and these majestic
creatures. People who aren’t great eaters were eating
whole sandwiches and asking for seconds, those who don’t
often participate in group activities or talk very much were
chatterboxes all afternoon and just couldn’t get enough of
the horses!” Said Ruth.
As a result, Baptist Health sponsored two donkeys at
Peaceful Acres, Shaggy and Cutie, and became their
feed partner for the year. Shaggy and Cutie even came to
visit Baptist Health System this past December for their
annual Holiday Open House. Baptist plans to head back
out to Peaceful Acres during the nicer weather months
to visit their sponsored friends and the whole herd. If
your organization would like to learn more about Horse
Hugs field trips, or potentially adopting a horse for your
community, you can visit Peaceful Acres web site at
www.peacefulacreshorses.com and learn more.
The Magic Power
The Baptist Care Fund raised money for a mobile aviary that
houses two love birds, Romeo and Juliet. Those birds have a
regular following of senior friends who take great comfort in
watching them and chatting with them.
benefits. Consistent interaction with a pet has
So, whether you prefer birds, dogs, cats or horses, chances
are that the staff at Baptist Health System will work hard to
accommodate your pet visit preferences.
This can be helpful for patients with
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We are simply mirroring back to our patients
and residents what the scientific community
has been showing us for years. Research has
shown how beneficial pet therapy can be for
the elderly, particularly those living in skilled
nursing facilities.
Regular visits with pets, usually dogs, can
have positive physical, emotional and cognitive
been shown to cause an increased release of
serotonin and dopamine in the brain which
can calm and sooth a person’s body.
Alzheimer’s dementia, as regular pet visits
may help to decrease unwanted behaviors and
calm their agitation. Many patients come to a
facility for short-term rehab. Often this means
27
Adviser a publication of LeadingAge New York | Spring 2016
(continued)
leaving their dog at home with family or even
in a kennel to be boarded during their rehab
stay. Pet owners often become sad and may
even demonstrate some degree of depression
over missing their pet. If dogs come to visit,
it can help raise their spirits and give them a
chance to tell their stories about their dogs,
cats or other pets.
This also can help increase socialization. It can
help them forget, if even for a moment, pain
that they are experiencing or sadness that they
may be feeling. Pets and pet therapy programs
can help improve overall mood which can lead
to increased motivation and participation in
therapy, thus an increased ability to achieve
rehab goals and return home. The bottom
line, pet therapy programs have “paws-i-tive”
results!
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