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EndingTheSilence
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Animal Therapy Part 1
« Thread started on: Apr 11th, 2007, 9:13pm » |
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A Dog A Day...
Animals are proven to have positive health effects on humans.
By Maggie McFadden
This is Part One in a four-part series about Animal Assisted Therapy. Animals have been shown to give tremendous health benefits—physically, mentally, emotionally—to humans when used in all kinds of therapy settings, both formal and informal. The series is meant to educate readers on AAT, help readers explore the possibilities of AAT and, ultimately, inspire those who know everything or nothing about the practice.
Len, the youngest employee at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, a rehabilitation hospital for inpatient and outpatient therapy serving everyone from physically handicapped children to stroke victims, shares an office with recreational therapist Brienne Costa and three other therapists. Although, he doesn’t have a desk, Len parks himself under Costa’s desk most days for his mid-afternoon naps.
“Sometimes Len gets tired and you can see it,” says Costa.
On a typical day, Len might see 20 patients.
“We keep track of Len’s visits in this book,” says Costa pointing to a calendar.
On this particular day, it’s 1:30 p.m., fresh after lunch and Len has already seen several patients. Len’s a dog, a residential, animal-therapy dog.
A 4-year-old golden retriever, he works with occupational, recreational, physical and speech therapists. While such programs are typically conducted through outside organizations and provide visits once per week, Len’s program is different. His job is full-time just like the other resident therapists.
Animal-assisted therapy is goal-directed, which is a therapy that combines animals and health professionals working together to make a patient feel better—whatever the problem.
The goals might include verbalization and motor skills for a stroke victim, arm motion and flexibility for a patient recovering from an accident, self-esteem and self-confidence for a sexually abused child, or balance and mobility for a rehabilitation patient. A simple game of fetch between a dog and patient, or “teaching” an animal tricks and presenting the work to peers are both examples.
This type of therapy recently has gained attention and popularity. Between 2004 and 2005, Intermountain—a large AAT organization based in Utah-- has seen a 20 percent increase in the number of volunteers in the organization an increase in number of programs, according to Kathy Klotz, executive director of Intermountain Therapy Animals. A growing number of animals and people are getting involved.
“Our organization (Canine Connection) has grown all through word of mouth,” says Dawn Henry, speech pathologist and manager of therapy services at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana, Ill. Henry and a handful of other dog owners began Canine Connection after visiting with a long-established AAT organization in Chicago called the Chenny Troupe. After one year, Canine Connection boasted 27 members.
AAT details
Back at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC), Costa is ready to start making the rounds with Len on the eighth floor—the stroke and traumatic brain injury floor. Len seems sleepy, but he jumps up from under his desk haven in room 958, wearing his therapy dog uniform—a blue canvas cape that straps around his mid-section. Costa grabs the bag of important therapy tools: a soft Frisbee, a bag of treats, a brush and, of course, his “Len Therapy Dog” ID tag complete with a picture of the four-legged animal. It is identical to all other co-workers’ ID tags.
Leash attached to his collar, and Len is off.
Only a few steps into his journey, a fellow RIC co-worker stops to pet Len.
“Sometimes I think the workers like Len more than the patients,” laughs Costa. A speech therapist named Trudy shrieks with joy and bends down to pet Len.
“That’s all I needed for today!” she says.
“Len makes everyone happy. It’s great to have him around us as well,” says Costa. “I look forward to seeing him.” Len and Costa spent several weeks training so that Len could become a certified therapy dog.
After a few more employee greetings, Len makes his first stop: Gary Poore.
Poore survived a stroke, but has an extremely weak left side and difficulty speaking. Costa asks him if he would like to brush Len using his left hand. She strategically places the dog so that Poore must turn his head left.
Poore brushes slowly. More than once, he tries to switch hands, but Costa corrects him.
“Hi baby,” says Poore to the dog—the first words he has spoken since the therapy session began.
After a few minutes, Poore, his hand tired and sore, gives Costa the brush.
Costa places a dog treat in Poore’s left hand. Poore is supposed to speak commands and give the treat to Len with his weak hand. This exercise works on fine motor skills and speech. Poore struggles to whisper a few commands.
“Louder, Gary,” says Costa.
“Down,” says Poore with a gust of energy.
Len lies down on the cold, hospital floor and Poore leans over with the well-deserved treat.
Costa takes out Len’s favorite Frisbee—a soft green and pink toy, complete with frayed edges.
At first, Poore has a difficult time. A few attempted tosses, leaves the Frisbee on the floor nearby. Len lifts up the Frisbee and gives it back to the stroke survivor. Poore tosses slightly farther. The two play a short game of fetch.
“It’s time for tug,” says Costa.
Costa places the Frisbee in Poore’s left hand and tells Len to “tug.” Len pulls too hard and the Frisbee immediately flies out of Poore’s hand. Next time, sensing he pulled too hard, the therapy dog pulls the Frisbee more gently. Poore smiles, his hand working hard toward recovery.
Another therapist in the room asks if Poore owned pets growing up. This is part of the therapy as well. By talking, Poore is working on his memory, cognitive skills and speech.
“Len is big and comfortable,” says Poore.
As their last goal, Poore holds a treat in his left hand and tells Len to “speak.” Poore struggles with the command, and Len isn’t listening. He ends up giving the treat to Len anyway and the session ends after 30 minutes.
Len and Costa will most likely be back tomorrow. She and Len try to visit their patients at least once a day.
Candidate for AAT
Animal-assisted therapy provides emotional and motivational support according to Costa, but the patient has to be a good candidate for the therapy. Costa and the other therapists pre-screen all patients to determine what type of therapy will work best. In some cases, if the patient is non-communicative, she will talk to the family.
“I only use Len for a patient I feel will benefit,” says Costa.
Len and Costa head for the eighth floor dining room where Len meets Luzie Buss, another stroke patient in a wheelchair. Buss smiles and utters noises of joy. Her words are gibberish, yet it is obvious she has been looking forward to seeing Len. She refuses to take a treat from Costa, but strokes the dog with both hands, unaware that this is part of the therapy. Len lays his head in Buss’s lap and she smiles again.
After a few minutes, Buss takes a treat and tries to tell Len to shake. Her command is barely a whisper but Len listens and puts his paw up on her wheelchair. She laughs, gives Len his treat, and slowly starts to pet Len with her weaker side.
“In the case of Luzie, the emotional aspect, in itself, is therapeutic,” says Costa.
Toward the back of the dining room sits Sandra Ware with her speech therapist. The therapist tells Costa that they need to work on Ware’s verbalization and short-term memory today. The therapist asks Ware if she remembers seeing Len and what games the two played.
Costa goes to the ice machine to fill a cup. Len has had enough treats. Now he gets a no-cal snack.
Commands such as sit or roll are difficult for Ware, who finds it difficult to speak above a whisper. With her weak hand, she holds a cube of ice and tells Len in as clear a voice as she can manage, “Shake.” Len puts his paw on Ware’s wheelchair. She feeds him the ice and pets him.
Next, Ware tries to tell Len to roll, but has extreme difficulty. Costa, the speech therapist and Ware say the command together. He rolls and receives more ice and a pat on the head.
Ware says goodbye in as loud voice as she can and Len and Costa continue on their way. An hour of work and it’s time for a short break in the office. Costa sits at her desk, while Len plops down under it. They have a half-hour until their next appointment, says Costa.
“He’s tired today,” says Costa to the other therapists.
(continued below)
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EndingTheSilence
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Re: Animal Therapy Part 1
« Reply #1 on: Apr 11th, 2007, 9:16pm » |
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More than just a dog
Some organizations use cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, llamas or pot-bellied pigs for therapy. It depends on a patient’s needs. For example, a young patient who is afraid of dogs might respond better to a rabbit or guinea pig. Reptiles and exotic animals are not allowed to be therapy animals.
AAT can be used in rehabilitation facilities, hospitals, nursing homes, psychologists’ offices, schools or prisons. Delta Society and Therapy Dogs International are two of the largest animal-assisted therapy organizations that certify and train therapy animals all over the country. Both organizations offer liability insurance.
AAT organizations typically are non-profit and work off of donations and membership fees. All the maintenance, food and care of the animal is taken care of at the expense of the owner and volunteer. In addition, a “pet team” at Delta Society pay a nominal fee first two years of certification and must renew each year after that. Therapy Dogs International charges a fee for each team the first year and an additional re-registration fee each year after that. The fees cover dogs and handlers under liability insurance in the event that the dog or the handler is injured while volunteering.
Animals assist reading education
In addition to traditional activities involving therapy animals, a new type of AAT program by Intermountain called Reading Education Assistance Dogs or R.E.A.D. started in January 2002 in an elementary school in Salt Lake City. It allows slow-reading children to learn in a stress-free, pressure-free environment.
Students read aloud and talk to the dog, while teachers and handlers offer encouragement. Because of its popularity, organizations such as Sit Stay Read in Chicago and Tails of Joy in Connecticut have begun implementing R.E.A.D. programs in their own states.
Source: Steps Magazine
Date Published: Spring 2006
Part Two of this four-part series on the positive health effects animals have on humans, the article will explore animals in mental health and psychotherapy settings. Animals, including dogs and horses are regularly used in such settings for a number of different benefits.
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EndingTheSilence
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Re: Animal Therapy Part 1
« Reply #2 on: Apr 11th, 2007, 9:23pm » |
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I had an experience with animal assisted therapy when I was in a hospital once. We had a therapy dog and her handler as part of our scheduled time. It really helped me relax and brightened up my mood.
My psychiatrist also recommended that my parents allow me to get a dog to help me therapeutically. I adopted a little terrier mix at the SPCA, and I must say that through her I finally understood the meaning of uncondicional love. She was always giving me kisses and was happy to see me. She nurtured me when I wasn´t feeling well and stayed by my side.
After understanding that love could be uncondicional, I was able to recognize and finally believe again that my family and good friends also loved me uncondicionally and were trying to help me be healthy and not just gain weight and become fat (which were my initial thoughts).
Has anyone else had any experiences with animal assisted therapy?
Or do you have a pet that has helped you in some way?
<3 Lanie,
Founder of Silent All These Years
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