Doodle therapy in the Nursing Home

[sheamusmom]

Seamus has been accompanying me 2-3 times monthly as I see my patients in the nursing home (I'm a nurse practitioner)for the past 1 1/2years. He follows me like a shadow, sitting at the feet of each resident as I see them. The residents love his happy goofy face and demeanor. Recently the recreation department has asked him to take a more active role as a recreation volunteer, and accompany the rec. therapist one day a week as they visit the rooms of the residents on other units. He has balked at being separated from me, so we're slowly weaning him into this new role. I'm having a few residents hold his leash in the hallway for 5-10 minutes while I'm out of sight, tending to other work. The residents love it because they have a "job" in training him. Yesterday I handed his leash to a lovely 90 yr old "grand dame" in her geriatric recliner chair, in the hallway in front of the desk. After a "sit, stay" command, I went about my business behind the nursing station. After a few minutes I heard some laughing, kind of like a "woopee", and there's the "grand dame" in her recliner, moving across the floor down the hall in her recliner. Yes, the doodle was happily pulling her down the hallway. In fact, she looked like a float in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. After I composed myself from laughing, I intervened, returned them both to their original posts, and thanked her for helping to train him for the Ididerod dog races.

[Cinsmom]

Oh the pictures in my head!!!

[Maddjaxx]

Originally Posted by Cinsmom

Oh the pictures in my head!!!

My thought exactly.

My mom resides at a nursing home and I can visualze the entire scene. Good work Seamus and Liz. Keep it up!! I'd love to take Marley for a visit to see my Mom, when in town but my Dad is old school and even though he thinks the world of Marley, "it's not the place for a dog". I keep working on him, but I got a feeling, from passed experience, that moving the Rock of Gibraltar would be easier.

[annieG]

What a cute story. Thank you so much for sharing that and starting my day with a smile

[tuffystar]

That is so cute! My mom has spent some time in nursing homes (due to ill health) she lives with my sister now. She had to give up her beloved Sassy (I can't spell the type but it is something like Bejone Fresse?). We re homed Sassy but mom says she will miss her till the day my mom dies. So seeing another dog sometimes helps a little. You are sharing a wonderful gift! Good job.

hahaha that is to funny!!! I bet it made the older ladies day!!!

[blueteal]

Teehee...............I bet next time you bring him there will be a line up for rides..........
bahahhahaaaaaaaaaaaaaa Great treat for the patients

[lindamarie]

Oh.....that is so AWESOME!! Melts my heart!!
What a great opportunity you have!

[annabelles mom]

That is too funny - how I wish you'd had a video camera, what a sight that must have been and I'm sure it made the "grand Dame's" week, way to go Seamus !

[gene]

How heart warming! I agree.....video!!

[anny51]

That's such a wonderful story....one of the reasons I've got a puppy is because I want to do therapy work in retirement homes and with the mental health sector. I have to wait till Charlie is at least a year old and certainly much more obedient (can I wait that long?!) but I'm really looking forward to it, and love reading about other doodle's experiences. Dogs seem to be much more widely used for therapy in the States than over here, but maybe that will change.

[Lucky Me]

Teehee...............I bet next time you bring him there will be a line up for rides..........
bahahhahaaaaaaaaaaaaaa Great treat for the patients

Thanks for the laugh!!!

[lmtoth2]

What a cute story. And thanks for the giggle at the thought of the doodle giving her a ride

[Calimom]

I burst out laughing at that story! Thanks for the laugh. Keep up the good work with Seamus!

[jumpingdoodle]

hahaha this is just too funny