Pooches helping elderly patients

PEABODY – The new staff at the Renaissance Gardens nursing care and rehabilitation facility may not have a license to practice medicine, but these employees certainly know what and how much medicine to use when treating their patients.Their prescriptions include licks to the face, nestling their noses into legs, and endless petting sessions. Sometimes they might just sit up against their patients while watching TV.So, who are these miracle workers? They could very well be the four-legged friends who live next door.As part of Dog B.O.N.E.S (Dogs Building Opportunities for Nurturing and Emotional Support), eight dogs and their trainers have signed on to work with residents who might need some tender love and care that only an animal can provide.”We have a therapy/social dog at Renaissance Gardens almost every day,” said Tom Cook, Volunteer Program Coordinator. “When the dogs arrive, you can see people’s faces light up.”Dog B.O.N.E.S. is a non-profit, volunteer-based organization based on the South Shore whose purpose is to provide trained, obedient, affectionate dog teams for therapeutic and social visitations to hospitals, assisted living facilities, and schools across the state. The organization provides training, certification, and insurance for owners and their dogs interested in joining the volunteer network.”The act of petting a dog has been shown to lower blood pressure, boost a person’s mood, and enhance their social interaction,” said Deb LaFlamme, sales manager at Renaissance Gardens. “Research shows that pets can add years to people’s lives.”LaFlamme was the first Gardens employee to sign on for the program with Fergie, her black, curly haired, white pawed Portuguese Water Dog who’s just under two years old.Fergie and LaFlamme attended an eight-hour training session held by Dog B.O.N.E.S at Renaissance back in November. It was there that LaFlamme and seven other teams learned the ins and outs of working with the elderly. If the team meets the requirements – age, obedience, vaccination, temperament – they receive a certificate, insurance, and an identifying red vest worn only by the dogs, all of which is included in their $20 membership fee.”She’s not just a therapy dog,” said LaFlamme. “We’re a therapy team.”LaFlamme said the most important thing she learned during her training was how to know when your dog is done working. After watching Fergie go from chewing on her leash, to standing, to lying down, to eating a bone, then back to her leash, LaFlamme said, “She’s done.”LaFlamme and Cook believe that the dog visits are a win-win for everyone. Staff members enjoy having the furry friends around, as much as the residents who see them.Resident Mary Perry spent time with another therapy dog earlier in the day, a Yellow Lab by the name of Sam Adams.”Oh, I had pets,” said Perry, who can no longer care for one on her own, but enjoys seeing her friends when they come in. “I like petting them.”Cook said that the majority of the residents who partake in the Dog B.O.N.E.S service are like Perry, former pet owners with a lifelong love for pets who just simply can’t keep up with the responsibilities of owning one.”It’s more than just a visit of a dog,” he said. “They have a connection with them.”Oftentimes families call the facility and request a dog visit for their relative if they sense they’re feeling down or if they can’t get there to visit themselves.”You can see a big difference,” said Cook. “They go from having a good day to having a great day.”Although the current dog teams at Renaissance are used more for social interaction and comfort, studies show that they can be used for rehabilitation, stress relief, and exercise.”The more dogs we have, the better for our folks,” said Cook.Renaissance hopes to hold another training event this summer for those interested in joining the Dog B.O.N.E.S. program. Those interested in volunteering can contact Cook at 978-536-2150, ext. 7068.