Therapeutic Dogs Help Heal Our Elderly
By Veronica MacDonald Ditko
Romeo poses with family.
The effects of pets on people are undeniable. Studies say pets can lower the heart rate, reduce blood pressure, and calm autistic children. Anyone who has had a pet can attest to the emotional bond between man and animal, as well as the physical one that is felt in a motion as simple as petting. Therapy dogs, which are specially trained to be around patients, are an extension of this “man’s best friend” bond.
“They are not only therapeutic emotion-wise, but physically too,” said Alison Argott, activities director at Heritage Manor and Southgate buildings at the Christian Healthcare Center in Wyckoff. “They help heal.” Therapy dogs visit these buildings an average of once a week as well as the post-acute care floors where rehabilitation occurs after hospital stays.
Argott has seen improvements, both physically and mentally, when therapy canines come to visit. Both responses seem to come naturally, especially the emotional bond people have with animals.
“This is where folks live and pass on, and throughout the end-stage of life people lose a lot of senses,” said Argott. “But the one thing that never goes is instincts. That’s what pets trigger – the instinct to nurture.”
This instinct may be deep-seeded. A 12,000-year-old human skeleton in Israel was found buried with its hand resting on the skeleton of a six-month-old wolf pup.
Beth Lawson with Lola the Miniature Labradoodle and a patient at the Christian Health Care Center.
Argott said she rarely sees a patient not smile at the sight of a dog. Part of it is because they are non-threatening, and part of it is how dogs increase the awareness to surroundings. “It puts sparks and emotions in people,” she said.
The physical reactions of patients are equally astounding. Argott saw a non-verbal 100-year old with advanced-stage dementia actually exclaim, “It’s a dog!” at the sight of a therapy dog. “That was the first time I heard her speak in years,” said Argott. “The dog elicited an actual physical response.”
University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Nursing discovered dogs relieve Alzheimer’s patients from sundown syndrome, a mysterious restlessness and agitation that often occur early in the evening.
Romeo, a therapy dog for Distinctive Care Distinguished Aging, a Ridgewood-based agency that provides and monitors medical care for older adults, helps a couple in Ho-Ho-Kus with similar difficulties. The husband suffered stroke, while the wife has dementia. For both of them, the physical changes are noticeable with Romeo, a Pomeranian.
Elaine Dunn and her Newfoundland, Gretchen, with Virginia Caraccia, a resident of Ringwood and a client at Christian Health Care Adult Day Services of Wyckoff.
“For him, he gets to use his motor skills; for her, she is engaged with the dog,” said Sophia Heftler, RN, owner of Distinctive Care and Romeo’s owner. The husband brushes Romeo and throws balls, two incredible feats for a severe stroke victim.
Dementia is specially addressed on the Reflections floor at Van Dyk Park Place in Hawthorne. Medical professionals can rarely get through to the patients with severe dementia. But Romeo has no problem.
“Studies say pets bring blood pressure down and lower the heart rate,” said Heftler. “I can’t say I ever tested that, but I can certainly tell you of the psychological effects he has on people – especially with dementia and often those present in an agitated state – and Romeo’s calming effect on them.”
Romeo visits Van Dyk Park Place once a month on the Reflections floor where he is passed around, cuddled, talked to, brushed, and fed treats. Romeo was specially trained to be around medical equipment and certified as a Canine Good Citizen, an honor that hangs on his collar. He also went through a series of tests to be certified by Therapy Dogs International. He was tested for his ability to take commands, friendliness, and trust and comfort around strangers.
Romeo used to go every week to Van Dyk Park Place to visit Richard, a Distinctive Care client who recently passed away. He had a mild form of dementia and Romeo calmed him.
Sophia Heftler (right) and Romeo pose with a Distinctive Care client (left).
“When we were preparing to do living will and power of attorney, [Richard] was very nervous and upset about whole process,” said Heftler. “We had to bring in Romeo to get him through the process. Richard was able to stay focused when Romeo sat on his lap. He was clearly able to demonstrate that he understood what he was signing and what the documents said.”
Joan of Maywood suffers from end-stage dementia and cannot communicate with others and is very agitated. When Romeo comes to visit, she’s completely engaged with him for that half hour and stops repeatedly asking for her mother. Instead, she plays and talks to Romeo.
“When we go away, I am told that there is an effect for another half hour where she continues to be engaged and then subsides until Romeo’s next visit,” said Heftler.
Inspirational Pets
Smaller-sized therapy dogs can also help inspire cat-lovers. Romeo inspired Mildred to rehabilitate in a Ridgewood nursing home to reunite with her cat.
“He was able to motivate Mildred and relieve her depression in a non-pharmacological way,” Heftler said. “And knowing if she kept at [rehabilitation], she would get out and get home to her cat.”
Arlene, a former patient at the Oakland Care Center, had private visits with Romeo. Her husband arranged the visits after he saw the resemblance between Romeo and the four cats Arlene had to leave behind at home.
“She was only 68, very depressed, and had a progressive, debilitating disease,” said Heftler. “She felt very isolated. But when we brought Romeo in, her mood would change for the day. It was amazing to see the change in her personality.”
Romeo is a cat-like dog with fluffy fur and lap-loving tendencies. “She missed her cats terribly,” said Heftler, “but Romeo was a good substitute.”
The Big Idea
Therapy dogs are not just of the purse-sized variety. Two Newfoundland dogs named Jet Star and Gretchen also visit the Christian Healthcare Center in Wyckoff. “That dog [Jet Blue] would be bigger than a person sitting in a wheelchair,” laughed Argott. But, of course, he is a gentle creature and specially trained to comfort people, as well as navigate around walkers and other medical equipment.
Christian Healthcare Center not only allows therapy dogs on the premises, but also invites family dogs to visit patients, as long as the owners sign a form saying the dogs do not bite and have updated vaccinations. Argott lets her own dogs visit, a St. Bernard and a Bull Mastiff, where they take part in the Center’s annual dog show each spring. “They are such a discussion piece,” said Argott. “They’re so big!”
During the dog show, the dogs walk up and down the aisles while owners talk about them. Patients participate in a panel of judges.
Spreading the Joy
Therapy pets also work wonders for other medical conditions. Heftler was the first patient Romeo helped. She suffered from a debilitating clinical depression for two years.
“My therapist suggested getting a dog might help,” she said. “My husband bought me Romeo and he had an amazing effect on me. He got me out of my depression. He gave me a reason to get out bed in the morning, someone to love me unconditionally.”
Fair Lawn resident Debbie Prescott said her toy poodle Piper, who is certified by Therapy Dogs International, also moonlights as a Waggin’ Tutor. Piper helps children learn to read at Ridgewood Public Library. Like people with dementia, therapy dogs calm anxious children enough so they can spell out words and practice reading during 15-minute sessions.
“The kids are more comfortable with animals because dogs are non-judgmental,” said Prescott. “We want the kids to read without anyone saying ‘That’s not how you do it.'”
Therapy pets also allow elderly people to imagine they have a pet without the responsibility that comes with caring for a pet. Romeo is also like a grandchild to grandparents: he’s great to have around, but he isn’t around all the time.
“These clients are no longer in the position to take care of a pet,” said Heftler. “But they just love Romeo coming over.”
Paying It Forward
Owners are therapy dogs’ No. 1 fans. Lucky for patients, however, that these owners are willing to share the love. “It’s unbelievable how the dog loves me; it’s such an amazing experience,” said Heftler. “I wanted to pay it forward and give other people the experience as well.”
Prescott too said Piper has added so much to her life, in addition to helping others. “Not only is she my first therapy dog, but she’s my first dog ever. I have allergies and couldn’t have pets. Then I heard someone say people are not really allergic to poodles…I wish I had known sooner.”