Now that my leg is healing, I’m free to begin a new chapter in my therapy work with Zinnia: Monday mornings at the Mansion Memory Care Unit. (Meditation Class is Tuesday)

The best therapy dogs have specialized training and are certified by trainers and instructors. Zinnia, the puppy, and I trained together for two years (often with the refugee students themselves) before she was approved and tested.

I trained her for a particular kind of work – entering schools and institutions for older people, greeting the students and residents who wanted to know her, and skirting those who didn’t want to work with her.

I can tell now, but more importantly, so can the dogs, even from a distance.

She has been thoroughly tested for calm and resilience; I trust her completely around all people, young and old.

Today, we take on a different task; we began regular work at the Mansion Memory Care Unit, a quiet, loving, and beautiful place adjoining the main building.

Even though the unit is dedicated to Maria and me, I’ve only come by occasionally and usually for a short time; I was too busy elsewhere between the farm, the Mansion itself, and the refugee students at Bishop Gibbons.

This kind of work is about showing up, and if I commit, I will. I’m committing to Memory Care. I love these people; they are fun, loving, challenging, and full of heart.

In Memory Care, you get used to answering the same questions endlessly, and you pretend each time you’re answering it for the first time. I was asked about Zinnia’s age about 50 times, and I’ll be asked 50 more tomorrow. Memory Care is a great teacher of patience.

They are wild about dogs, and a dog’s presence changes the dynamic in the entire unit. We can do a lot of good just by appearing.

 

But this means new training for Zinnia. The dogs find the people who need them in the Mansion and high schools. I walk them around to see who wants to see her, and she does the rest.

In Memory Care, it’s the opposite.

The dog has to be in one place so the residents can find her and come to her.

Zinnia was trained to avoid jumping up on furniture, so now, I need to teach her to jump up when commanded and be still for as long as it takes for the residents to come to her, touch her, feel her, pat her, and love her.

This, I see, is SO important to them. I need her to jump up without touching anyone and sit or lie down until she is released. I’m sure she will pick it up. She already loves to be helpful to people.

As a part of this training, I call her up on a soft, then step back and away from her but in full view and use hand signals and head movements to keep her still.

It took her just a few minutes to get the idea, and I will reinforce it in the coming day switching occasional treats and lots of praise.  As long as she can see me, she will stay. Getting her to stay when I leave will take more training.

I said “Good girl” in my most enthusiastic voice a dozen times. She was getting it. I never let training sessions go too long,

Dogs get bored quickly, and the work can become a chore, not fun.

We began this training today; the Memory Care unit has become vital to me because I see how important Zinnia is to them.

Ellen stuck to her like glue today, beaming as the other residents came up to say hello, daring anyone to get her to move.

“I’m not going away,” she said, “I could stay here day and night with this sweet dog.”

Zinna soon discovered that this could be fun. Resident after a resident came up for a kiss a lick and offered rubs and, scratching, and love in return.

To Zinnia, this is a fair deal. I kept her there for 45 minutes and saw she was getting restless, so I stopped. Therapy dogs tire easily.

The residents were thrilled; everyone, even the recluses, came out one by one.

They pleaded with us to come back or stay all day. Most won’t even remember us tomorrow, but they will know her when they see her, and she will know them.

Zinnia loves attention, so this will work. She is sometimes restless or anxious when she can’t see me, as she was trained to be. I’ll have to work on that. I need an extended “stay,” at least up to a half hour.

We saw just about everyone today; two or three residents were sleeping, and we didn’t disturb them.

This adds a rich element to my life; the work is challenging and rewarding. There is a great need. I feel Memory Care is my calling. I hope you will all  get something from the trip.