Senior News January, 2004 Vol. 25. No. 1

 

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.

New Alzheimer's program lands on all four feet

New Medicare changes: how will they affect you?

Driving and getting older-challenge increases with age

Riding high: woman and steed flow together

Service with a smile-Volunteers make a difference in our community

Role of volunteers will grow under new police chief

No Podunk in McKinleyville

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When KEET Outreach Director Claire Reynolds learned that a program, The Forgetting-A Portrait of Alzheimer's, would be airing on PBS in January, she wanted to include a segment about local services and issues. After learning about the positive difference animals can make in the lives of people with dementia, she obtained funding for a Delta Society Pet Partners training for people interested in visiting people with Alzheimer's. She contacted Prescription Pets, an affiliate of the Delta Society in Redding.   

Delta Society promotes animals helping people improve their health, independence and quality of life. Its Pet Partners program expands public awareness of the positive effects of animals on human health, reduces barriers to involvement of animals in everyday life and brings animal-assisted therapy to more people. Prescription Pet teams are trained to provide animal assisted activities in a variety of health care settings.       

The first Humboldt County Pet Partners training and evaluation occurred in November at the Alzheimer's Day Care Resource Center. The human team members received eight hours of training to learn what is expected of Pet Partners, what types of settings are visited, the necessary qualities of Pet Partner teams and how to respond to a variety of situations.     

Trainees included teachers, nurses, social workers, therapists and family members of people with Alzheimer's who have seen the tremendous gift of unconditional love animals can give and wanted to combine their love of animals with their desire to provide a service to people with dementia.       

Only four local teams passed the rigorous evaluation process, out of ten teams that attempted, which is not uncommon. Teams that did not pass will be invited to try again. Currently, St. Joseph Hospital has a staff nurse who is a certified Pet Partner team member and evaluator and visits regularly with her two certified Bernese Mountain dogs. Plans are underway to certify local nursing and residential care facilities, as well as Adult Day Health programs.     

This new program will be affiliated with Prescription Pets which provided the training and will provide ongoing support and assistance to the fledgling Humboldt County program. The Sequoia Humane Society will act as the local contact for the Pet Partners program for those seeking visits and training. There are plans to provide the second training this spring. For more information about the Pet Partners program, call the Sequoia Humane Society at 444-8551 or KEET-TV at 445-0813.       

The Forgetting-A Portrait of Alzheimer's will air on KEET-TV Channel 13 on Jan. 21. The local follow-up show which will air after the national broadcast will include a segment about Pet Partners.     

Maggie Kraft is director of the Alzheimer's Resource Center of the Humboldt Senior Resource Center. She and her dog Nevada are one of the teams trained.