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7 7-10 - mdj - pet therapy
1. Animal instinct
by Sally Litchfield
MDJ Features Editor
sallylit@bellsouth.net
07.06.10 - 11:00 pm
Studies show that people who
have pets live longer. At Arbor
Terrace at West Cobb, located at
3829 Floyd Road in Austell,
residents benefit from pet
therapy.
Each week at the assisted living
and memory care community for
seniors, different dogs are
brought in to interact with
residents.
"It's a soothing thing and a
chance to connect with an animal
again," said Kathryn Trice,
activity director.
Trice, who began using pet
therapy 14 years ago while
working with seniors, said that
benefits of visiting animals
include diminishing emotional
and physical pain and reducing
boredom and loneliness.
She said that according to studies
pet therapy could do everything
from lowering blood pressure to
decreasing anxiety. "It (pet visits)
can boost your mood," she said.
Pet therapy also helps residents with relationships because they talk with each other about
the pets. "It encourages social interaction. It gives them something else to talk about,"
said Trice, who has worked with the elderly since 1979.