Senior News March, 2002 Vol. 21. No.  3

 

Published by the Humboldt Senior Resource Center in Eureka, California. HSRC is a non-profit community-based organization offering services for senior citizens, multi-generational families and caregivers.

Working animals:Nevada has a job at Adult Day Health

Briefs

Opinion:Medicare reimbursement threatened

Rediscovering Northern California State Parks

Traveling smart: A few tricks to make the journey flow smoother

NutriMinute

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Working animals
Nevada has a job at Adult Day Health
by Nevada,
as told to Maggie Kraft

Nevada at work with Jody Ellis, left, and Chana Arias. Photo by Barbara Clark.

My name is Nevada. I am four years old. I work at Eureka Adult Day Health Services. My official title is "therapy dog," but I have no formal training in this area. It's all on-the-job training.

In the morning I greet our clients as they arrive. If they leave their jackets or hats on for too long, I give them a couple sharp barks. I want them to feel comfortable and at home. Some clients want to pet me, which is a good exercise for them, so I give as much time to this as possible. The most therapeutic petting is when they rub my stomach. Some folks prefer that I jump onto their laps, or stand on my back legs and lean on them in their chairs. Each person is different, and I try to be accommodating.

Some days it is hard to fit everyone in my schedule; but because I am not expected to do a lot of paperwork, I have more time than the other therapists. My favorite part of the job, besides the tummy rubs, is the opportunity to help clients through rough spots and make them laugh. I can often distract them from their worries, and it has been scientifically proven that petting an animal can take away aches and pains. It is a good day to be a dog when I can do this.

The part of my job I dislike the most is lunch time. This is my mandated break time, and I have to leave the area. I take a quick nap before my afternoon duties.

After lunch things really start to hop. I clean up the floor while also entertaining clients as they wait for their buses. This is the time for spontaneous antics and general schmoozing. Sometimes I jump right up into people's laps. I know most of the folks pretty well and know which ones like me to do different things. I never jump in the wrong lap. That would be a bad dog move. I am a professional, after all.

My greatest job satisfaction comes from spending time with my friends, making them laugh and helping them feel good about being here. When I miss a day and they ask about me or want to spend time with me when I am here, I feel appreciated and needed. It is a mutual feeling.

Maggie Kraft is director of Adult Day Health Services, a program of the Humboldt Senior Resource Center.