Posted on 03/29/2013 10:40:11 AM PDT by Slings and Arrows
Anyone who has shared their life with a companion animal and bonded closely has experienced a healing relationship. We are truly blessed with their capacity to offer unconditional love. Just being in their presence gives us such an abundance of joy and happiness.
It’s an undisputed fact that animals are highly intuitive beings who excel in the art of healing. The majority of cat lovers will wholeheartedly agree that there is nothing more relaxing and soothing than having a purring kitty on their lap. In fact, those of us who are insomniacs are often quickly lulled off to dreamland.
Animals help humans in so many ways, by teaching us about unconditional love, trust and loyalty. As a result, companion animals often make excellent therapists. Given the right temperament and appropriate training, pets that are used in animal-assisted therapeutic programs, give great solace to elderly nursing home residents and make a huge difference in their lives. Therapy cats and dogs can greatly transform the lives of folks suffering from stress disorders and those who are lonely and depressed.
Despite the healing ability of the human-pet relationship, the majority of hospitals in the United States refuse to authorize their patients to have even a short visit with their beloved furry family member. Hospital administrators justify their refusal to allow pets for visits with concerns that range from the risk of infection to libel.
But according to The Commercial Appeal, after three years of analysis over logistics, cleanliness and costs and believing that the benefits outweigh the risks, Chicago’s Rush University Medical Center has joined a dozen other hospitals around the country by compassionately opening their doors to allow patients to receive visits from their pets in their rooms.
Before this forward-thinking decision was made, some sympathetic staff sometimes arranged “clandestine” visits for patients be with their pets. Others looked the other way while a visitor snuck an adored kitty or pooch into a patient’s room for a few minutes. However the good news is that all of that subterfuge is a thing of the past, since pet visits are now out in the open and totally legal.
This said the hospital does have a few regulations for pet visits. Only cats and dogs are presently allowed. Everyone concerned must consent to the visit, including the attending physician. If the pet has an "accident" the pet handler must clean up the mess. Environmental services will then sanitize the area. The pet must be bathed and groomed prior to the visit and is not allowed to interact with any other patients.
A patient at Rush University Medical Center who has ovarian cancer expressed her gratitude about being able to spend some quality time with her pet Dachshund said, “It just gives me a little piece of home. It’s just wonderful to have someone to hug and help me deal with things.” I can only imagine the joy of other Rush patients are feeling, being able to spend precious moments with their beloved furry friend
I bet that was fun! Wish we had one.
Someone using autocorrect perhaps?
I did LOL when I got to “libel.”
Slander, I could understand, but libel? ;-)
The wife and I told her we wanted to move in.
She threw a horseshoe at us, which isn't really new to me but this time the horse was still attached............
Hairy again.
Hairy is a sweet looking-dog. I’m sure that a snuggle with him is great therapy indeed.
blush blush~~~ ;}
[Sniffle]
TheMom has it all set up to bring Kitty to the shoot too.
Great! I love Kitty and look forward to seeing her. Well, you and TheMom, too, of course!
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