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January 26, 2009 Shop
Now in the Our Caregiver's e-Mall is filling up with great stores and a growing number of items just in time for the holidays. Whether you browse and find a book or tape to help you with caregiving, or come across a wonderful gift for a friend or family member, the e-Mall can be your source for easy shopping and gift-giving. So, click on the dark blue Caregiver's e-Mall buttons throughout our site and enter a comfortable, secure shopping experience with major merchants while avoiding the hassle of having to find a parking place or matching your shopping hours with someone else's. Our mall is just a click away and is open 24 hours every day. Watch for additional stores opening in the e-Mall soon!
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Posted: September 13, 2004 Practical CaregivingPets Can Become a Caregiver's AssistantThe first 2-1/2
years, we traveled in a 32-foot travel trailer I pulled with a
Suburban. We lived in Vancouver Island in the summer and Arizona and
Texas in the winter. While we were
traveling to our destination, Mom would sit in the back seat with
Hobbes and take care of him. She talked to him, told him everything
would be all right when he meowed, and asked him how he liked the trip.
When it was time to go inside the trailer, she made sure he was taken
in first. Dad always said
he didn't like cats, but he made sure I had a cat when I was younger.
He enjoyed watching Hobbes and made sure Hobbes had everything he
needed. One time Dad dropped a cracker on the floor. Hobbes ran over
and smelled it, then licked it, then ate it. Of course, Dad gave him
another one. A couple days later Dad was opening a package of crackers
when Hobbes heard the rattling and ran over. Dad laughed and gave him
another cracker. After that Dad made sure I had a dish of crumbled
crackers sitting out for Hobbes. I had read how
much the elderly like it when someone brings animals to their nursing
home, but I didn't realize how much it meant to them until I took care
of Mom and Dad. You see, Hobbes was very much my caregiving assistant
with Mom and Dad. The elderly face
retirement, loss of friends and/or their spouse, serious illness,
moving from their home of many years to a smaller place or a nursing
home, and the inability to continue living their own lives the way they
want. They face life coming to an end as well as loneliness and
insecurity. A pet can be a friend that helps the elderly through the
major upheavals in their life. Pets and people respond to each other
with warmth, affection and unconditional love. The right animal
wants love and attention from their owner, even in a nursing home, and
the owner completes the circle by responding with love and attention.
The elderly person gives the pet love and attention, then the animal
responds to that love by wagging its tail, purring, or some other
appropriate response. Some elderly in nursing homes find long-lost
happiness when they start interacting with a pet. The presence of
pets has been responsible for helping people heal faster, lower blood
pressure, decrease pain episodes, bring smiles and encouragement,
increase interaction with other people, enhance self-awareness and
reality orientation, decrease anger and stress, provide topics for
conversation, spark memories to talk about as well as fill the need to
touch something that is alive in a loving manner. The lives of the
elderly are enriched and improved when they routinely spend time with a
pet. In short, this
becomes pet therapy. The practice of
taking pets on visits to the elderly started 20 to 30 years ago. At
first, just a few people took their pets to a nursing home, but it has
evolved into a more sophisticated program. Some nursing homes and other
living facilities have pets living there, but most make it possible for
pets to visit residents. There is even a business trade for providing
pets to homes. Residents are encouraged to hold the animals, but those
who don't want to be in contact with an animal are not forced to
participate. The health of
pets that live with or visit the elderly need to be screened very
carefully, and a veterinarian should be involved. The vet should
perform regular health screenings and keep a close eye on the pet for
any changes that could signal a problem. People who bring in the
animals should be trained to help the elderly interact with a pet. If you can, make
it possible for your loved one to have contact with a loving pet. The
pet need not be a cat or dog. It can be a rabbit, bird, fish, lizard or
any other non-threatening animal they like. It will enrich their life,
and yours as well. © 2004 Pederson Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Commercial use, redistribution or other forms of reuse of this information is strictly prohibited without the prior written permission of Pederson Publishing. ______ Please send me your questions, comments and issues regarding the practical side of caregiving at ASKJEAN@caregivershome.com, and remember to take advantage of our professionals and experts in the Ask an Expert section of our website. You'll find it in the left column on our homepage. |
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