volunteeringpets aiding patients at Hinds Hospice during tough periods
In Fresno, Calif., a unique programme is bringing comfort and joy to those going through a difficult and lonely journey. Hinds Hospice, a local hospice or palliative care service, launched its Dog Visit Volunteer Program in 2023, and it's making a significant impact.
Lorna Mitchell, a volunteer in the programme, is accompanied by her dog Chloe. Sarah Mikolavich, a retired nurse, also participates with her dog Faith. These dog volunteers provide a non-judgmental and comforting space for hospice patients and their families, helping to fill a void during a challenging time.
The Dog Visit Volunteer program aims to bring a sense of normalcy to hospice patients, offering meaningful benefits that enhance the physical, emotional, and social well-being of both patients and their families.
Physical Well-being
Interaction with therapy animals can lead to the release of endorphins, helping patients manage discomfort more effectively. Studies show that spending time with pets can lower blood pressure, reduce heart rate, and decrease stress hormone levels, contributing to overall physical relaxation. Even gentle activities like petting or grooming animals encourage movement, which can enhance motor skills and promote circulation.
Emotional Well-being
The presence of a pet and the act of interacting with it provides comfort, reducing feelings of loneliness and alleviating anxiety and depressive symptoms common in hospice patients. Animals offer nonjudgmental companionship, helping patients express feelings, reduce emotional distress, and experience moments of joy during challenging times. Positive engagement with therapy animals can trigger the release of serotonin and dopamine, improving mood and fostering a sense of calm and happiness.
Social Well-being
Pets often serve as a social catalyst, encouraging conversations between patients, families, volunteers, and staff, which can reduce feelings of isolation. Animal-assisted therapy sessions offer families shared positive experiences with their loved one, promoting bonding and emotional closeness. The presence of pet volunteers can create a more homelike, welcoming environment, fostering a supportive community within the hospice setting.
Additional Benefits
Regular visits by pet volunteers help establish comforting routines and bring a sense of normalcy to an otherwise clinical environment. Interaction with animals can evoke cherished memories and encourage storytelling, allowing patients to share life stories and experiences with their families.
In summary, pet volunteers in hospice care play a vital role in enhancing quality of life by addressing the holistic needs of patients and their families, making the end-of-life journey more compassionate and meaningful.
The impact of dog volunteers is significant, especially for patients at the end of life. Chloe, when wearing her red vest, understands it's time to work as a therapy dog, and the pair make visits to the hospice home at least once a week. Three dogs are currently in the Dog Visit Volunteer program at Hinds Hospice, with a goal of expanding.
This programme is part of the "Our America: Mental State - The Loneliness Epidemic" series, an ongoing effort to share reporting on building social connections, with a focus on stories about various aspects of life. Readers can find all stories and videos in the series by clicking the provided link.
For those going through a challenging time, the comfort and companionship provided by these therapy dogs can make all the difference.
- Therapy animals, such as Chloe and Faith, offer beneficial physical well-being services to hospice patients by releasing endorphins to help manage discomfort, lowering blood pressure, reducing heart rate, and decreasing stress hormone levels.
- Emotional well-being is boosted through the presence of pets, helping patients cope with feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and depressive symptoms, while also promoting moments of joy and triggering the release of serotonin and dopamine.
- Interactions with pet volunteers encourage social well-being by fostering conversations between patients, families, volunteers, and staff, building emotional bonds, and creating a more warm, inviting atmosphere within the hospice setting.
- In addition to their therapeutic benefits, dogs in hospice care, like Chloe, help establish comforting routines, evoke cherished memories, and provide a sense of normalcy in what can often be a clinical environment.
