5 minute read
Furry Companion
Golden retriever spreads sunshine to seniors at Manchester nursing homes
BY KRYSTEN GODFREY MADDOCKS
Cooper, an 8-year-old golden retriever, spends time each month roaming the halls of Mount Carmel and St. Teresa Rehabilitation and Nursing Centers in search of seniors willing to give him pets and love.
He doesn’t have to walk too far to find residents anxious to pat his head and shower him with affection. Sometimes he does tricks, showing his paw or lying down on command, in exchange for treats. But most of the time, he visits those who might miss their own pets and enjoy some furry companionship.
“The residents are always happy when Cooper comes in. They look forward to his visits so much,” says Barbara Gray, director of life enrichment services at Mount Carmel. “One resident always has popcorn waiting to give Cooper, and others can’t wait to give him some good petting. So many residents have had dogs in their lives, and for the dog lovers, Cooper brings so much comfort to them. He brings back so many memories of the dogs that they had, and they love to share those stories. Our pet cat, who lives on one of our units, even enjoys Cooper.”
Mount Carmel is a 120-bed facility that includes long-term care, rehabilitation services and a dementia unit. Cooper happily visits every floor. Bibiana Rummler, location manager at McHugh Funeral Home in Manchester, escorts Cooper throughout the building as a volunteer.
She first discovered her dog had a gift for making people feel calm and happy after watching how he interacted with staff and visitors at the funeral home.
“Even as a puppy, he wasn’t very energetic. He’s more of a couch potato kind of dog. I used to bring him to the funeral home every week to get him used to people and strangers,” she says. “He just developed this very nice personality where he gets along with everyone. When we take him to the dog park, he plays with the people, not with the dogs.”
Rummler got Cooper from a breeder in Vermont when he was just 9 weeks old. He’s never been formally trained as a comfort dog, but his kind, gentle demeanor made him a perfect pet therapy candidate. Cooper started visiting Mount Carmel in 2018, and became the residence’s first comfort dog. He took a break during the pandemic but resumed his visits in 2022.
“I knew the activities director at Mount Carmel Nursing Home, Barbara Gray. I did an activity there with some of the residents. And then one day I asked, ‘What do you think if I was to bring Cooper to visit the residents? He’s a golden retriever, very friendly, very social. What do you think of that? Is that something that you would allow?’ And she said, ‘I don’t see why not,’ ” Rummler says.
Not only is Cooper fun to pet, but he improves the quality of life of the seniors he meets. Gray says Mount Caramel staff see the benefits of having comfort animals in a nursing home environment, including some of the medical benefits that come with pet therapy.
According to a white paper published by Pet Partners, a nonprofit organization that seeks to improve human health and wellbeing through the human-animal bond, studies have shown therapy animals used in medical settings correlate with the following effects:
• Decreased perceptions of pain
• Improved recovery rates
• Decreased anxiety and stress
• Less fear and worry in patients
• Improved biobehavioral markers of stress
Gray suggests that any senior care facility looking to bring in comfort dogs should ensure that pets’ shots are up to date, screen for pet friendliness, and watch for negative behaviors, such as jumping. The Association of Animal Intervention Professionals also provides safety guidelines for senior care homes looking to integrate therapy animals into their activities.
Cooper’s success at Mount Carmel got him an invitation to brighten the lives of St. Teresa residents. Administrator Rory Blinn says the facility’s 51 residents look forward to interacting with him each month.
Earlier this year, St. Teresa recognized Cooper for his efforts at a Volunteer Appreciation Day. He received a tuxedo bib, homemade ice cream and a certificate of appreciation.
“Residents with Alzheimer’s disease touch him and feel the love he gives off. It doesn’t matter how far along they are in (their disease) progression, they still get the same joy, like a kid,” Blinn says.
Rummler says it’s well worth taking the extra time to ensure Cooper makes his monthly rounds, and he enjoys it, too.
“There are residents who have dementia and maybe are not very vocal anymore. And when they touch Cooper, they smile, and they won’t say anything, but they smile, and it’s just like … oh, I get chills, and so many times it’s hard to hold back tears when you see them so happy,” she says.
