A retired nurse who trains therapy dogs shared the animals’ impact on residents of senior homes, assisted living facilities and nursing homes, in a presentation this week in Wisconsin Dells.
Gail Scoates, of Fond du Lac, has written three books about her work and relationships with therapy dogs. She discussed their roles with seniors, ailing children, children from troubled backgrounds and other people with various needs during a program Monday at Riverwood Senior Living.
“People really look forward to the dogs coming in,” Scoates said of residents at senior facilities. “One of the things we do is we help people remember.”
The presence of therapy dogs provides a talking point for her and senior facility residents with memory loss, she said. Residents have recalled memories of dogs and other pets they owned throughout their lives in conversations with therapy dogs present, according to Scoates, who added that this helps those residents recall other moments in their lives as well.
People are also reading…
Scoates and Audrey Moen, a resident of neighboring Riverwood Condominiums, introduced their golden retrievers, Sadie, 15, and Dakota, 10, respectively, to a group of senior residents attending the program.
“It’s mental stimulation, it’s emotional stimulation,” Scoates said of therapy dogs’ impact on people and the mutual benefit for the dogs, adding that she and Sadie’s work has helped Sadie remain healthy and active for a long time.
Therapy dogs are trained to follow verbal and nonverbal commands, be social in different environments and comfortable with being touched, as well as being friendly with new people, according to Moen. Scoates added that therapy dogs also need a consistent home and someone to fully tend to their needs in order to be at their best.
Dakota spends 6 to 10 hours a week at the senior facility and has built close bonds with residents, Moen said.
“He has changed people’s lives when they are new (to Riverwood),” Moen said, adding that Dakota’s presence helps ease anxiety for those new residents, particularly people who may have memory conditions. “He has helped people who wanted to give up on life.”
She said Dakota has provided comfort and affection to people who are suffering from serious and even terminal conditions, lifting their spirits in the process. He also laid in bed with a patient during her last days before death, she said.
“He knows exactly where everybody lives,” Moen said of Dakota’s relationships with residents. “Everybody wants to see him.”
Two Riverwood residents, Mary Lein and Libby Robinson, expressed appreciation for Dakota’s companionship and bonds with them and other residents, who are allowed to have their own dogs and other pets in the facility as well.
“Their eyes just light up when Dakota comes in,” Sue Wake, Riverwood’s community relations director, said.
Riverwood Senior Living opened in 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and there were not a lot of activities available for residents as a result, facility owner Mary Panzer said. She said Dakota and other therapy dogs were brought in to help residents at that time.
Dakota and other therapy dogs have been used to calm people in memory care, as well as help them and other residents go to sleep, according to Panzer.
After her program, Scoates sold copies of her books to residents and talked with them while letting them pet Sadie. Sadie is one of three therapy dogs she has owned.
Golden and Labrador retrievers are the most common breeds among therapy dogs, Scoates said. She has been doing work with therapy dogs since the late 1990s. Her three books, “5 Minutes of Gratitude,” “Gratitude and Reflection,” and “Paws, Purpose and Possibilities,” are all available on Amazon.
This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content.
