Animal therapy in a hospice house

Contribution of Felicia Schafer, Executive Director, Osf Richard L. Owens Hospice Home

According to Mayo Clinic, animal -assisted therapy is a growing field that uses dogs or other animals to help patients get back or better cope with acute and chronic health problems, such as heart disease, respiratory disease, cancer and mental health disorders.

Animal assisted therapy can considerably reduce pain, anxiety, depression and fatigue in people with a range of health problems:

• Children with dental procedures
• People with cancer
• People in long -term care establishments
• People hospitalized with chronic heart failure
• Veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder

Animal therapy in the Osf Hospice house

There are currently four companions for pets who bring time to the house of the hospice Richard L. Owens OSF. These pets are at home five days a week.

With their owners, Bailey, Boggs, Bria and Sir William followed a training program and in turn offering patients and families of love and the company. If our patients or guests have allergies or prefer not to be around animals, we will limit them from the patient’s room.

In addition to helping care for our patients, our wonderful companions from Hospice OSF houses are also involved in the management of the families of our patients. They offer comfort, game and positive distraction to our families. He is a warm and cuddly friend who likes to be involved in the management of those we serve.

Are patients of patients allowed to visit the Hospice Home OSF?

We allow visits to most pets. This visit must be planned in advance and coordinated with the nursing staff. These animals must be on a leash and are only allowed in the room of the person they visit.

It is necessary for a form to be completed indicating that the pet is up to date on their vaccinations and that it must be clean and neat before their visit to the house. Some animals will not be allowed to visit depending on their size or species.

We do not allow snakes, rodents and similar species to visit due to the risk for others.

Last update: November 5, 2018