Pet Therapy
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The group "Volunteer for Animals" with the Genesee County Animal Shelter sponsors the "Visiting Pets" program. This program meets with the residents of the Genesee County Nursing Home and Adult Home/Domiciliary every two weeks and has been in existence for approximately 10 years.
The residents look forward to the visitors by waiting in the lobby or by the elevators. The residents form a bond with each visit. Some have had to give up their pets to move into the facility and this program meets the needs of these residents who love animals and may have experienced a sense of loss. The volunteers interact with the residents, allowing them to hold and pet the animals. The pets offer unconditional love and unqualified approval. Pets satisfy an emotional need. The visits shift the residents' attention away from negative feelings or thoughts to positive feelings of love and nurturing. They satisfy the need for touch and physical contact. Residents who have cognitive impairments experience moments of joy and often express their joy in ways not seen at other times. This truly is quality of life. The benefits of the "Visiting Pets" program are not only therapeutic, but physical as well. Residents can experience reduced stress, a reduction in blood pressure, a sense of worth, and a calming effect. The program is a vital part of the Activities Department within the Genesee County Nursing Home and Adult Home/Domiciliary.
