kalinda

I just have to share with you all, I am a nurse at an AL that deals
strictly with residents with Dementia. We are a locked unit.

Last week the owners gave us 2 miniature horses. They are so sweet, and
the residents just adore them! They have a barn and paddock that they
spend most of their time in, but we bring them into the back yard and
the residents sit on the back porch and feed them carrots. The horses
are so friendly that they come right up on the porch!

It has been a lot of hard work. I have organized a volunteer program,
and learned as much as I could about horses so they would be well cared
for. The bigger one can pull a cart, and will they will most likely
walk with me on the October 4th Alz Walk in our area.

I am always looking for ways to connect to the residents, something to
encourage them to initiate conversation over. What have you all found
that helps? We have an MSE room also that is put into use. (Multi
Sensory Experience).

Thanks,
Kalinda

evelyn ruut

Dear Kalinda,

That is so nice! My mother in law always loved and related well to
animals. She had lots of exposure to horses and to cows as a young girl,
and even now her delusions often center around the cows she had to bring
home and to feed and milk as a young ****ager. I wish I could find a place
for her where she could be near farm animals again! We sometimes bring her
to a farm that is down the road where she can watch the horses, but they
don't come over to the fence or seem to want to be friendly.

--

Evelyn

"Since everything is but an apparition, perfect in being what it is, having
nothing to do with good or bad, acceptance or rejection, one may well burst
into laughter." -Longchenpa

gwen love

The nursing home where my dad was had a resident dog, and the one where
Grayson was had a dog who had puppies. Everybody just loved them
Gwen
------------------------------------
"A bend in the road is not the end of the road, unless you fail to make the
turn."
~ Author Unknown ~

nancy young

Once I went to visit my mil in a nursing home facility, I do not
remember why I had my cat with me, but I did. I didn't want to
leave the cat in the car, but I thought ... hospital, are they
really going to let me in with a pet? So I hid her in my coat.
I know, bad.

I walk into the lobby by the reception area, guess who pops her head
up. Great. So I said, is it okay if I bring her upstairs with me?
They almost blew me back out the door saying YEEEEESSSS!!!!!

Found out why on the way up. Old people just jumped all over that
action ... I had a cat! Oh, can I pet the cat? I used to have a
cat! Etc etc. Took me forever to get upstairs and who knows WHAT
my cat was thinking.

nancy (doesn't have a horse to bring)

kalinda

This is exactly why we have a cat and a dog in every home. The horses
are just at my particular home. It has been a lot of fun, all the horsey
talks we have had, and all the interest it has generated in the
community. My Alz Walk group will be large this year with lots of
volunteers coming to join us.... it has been a great experience all
around so far..

Kalinda