The sweetest time of the week for me is Monday when Zinnia and I visit the Memory Care Unit at the Mansion. I don’t really have the words for how much the residents love her, come out of their rooms to touch and see her, and look forward to her visits.
She is a well-trained Therapy Dog, but most important, a natural one. She always visits everyone in the room; she is soft, quiet, patient, and loving. The Dog Shy residents come to see her one by one and are won over. After working for a couple of years, she has become a great therapy dog; I am pretty proud of her.
The new plan – she is asked to do something she was trained not to do – jump up on couches (on command only) and let the residents come to her. It’s the perfect protocol for Memory Care. Memory Care is different from our regular therapy work. Usually, we go to the students and residents. In Memory Care, you want the dog to be still and gentle and wait for them to come to her. They always do.
A dog is something primal the elderly need. Working with a therapy dog is one of the most satisfying things I’ve ever done. Seeing the smiles is a rich reward, this, I tell myself, is what I was meant to do.
Today, the residents agreed to ask me if Zinnia could sleep over one night. Ellen offered to let Zinnia sleep in her room anytime she wished. One asked me for a photo or painting of Zinnia so she could hang it on her wall (I’m getting some photos printed for them.
Aide Robin (a hugger) and Zinnia are friends.
When I come in, the residents gather in a circle in the main gathering room. We have it worked out. Zinnia jumps up to a seat on the big sofa on command, and the residents gather to touch, kiss, and hold her.
After that, I walk her through the Memory Care facility to visit anyone who wants to see her one-on-one. Some of the residents are shy about dogs. One by one, Zinnia is flipping them; they come out to touch and see her.
Then we return to the main living room and stay until I see she is tired. It doesn’t look like hard work for a dog, but it is.
Robin, an aide, is a natural hugger. So is Jane, an artist.
Jane came over to hug me and show me her latest work, her favorite.
Zinnia sits perfectly still while people hug, pat and touch her. She loves attention.
After a while, a line gathers of shy residents who come out quietly to see and touch her. Everyone who wants to see her gets to. If necessary, we go to them. No one has ever refused to see her.
Zinna and I work the corners to find stragglers or the shy. They are always happy to see Zinnia.
Barb was afraid of dogs at one time, but not anymore. When Zinnia comes into the room, everyone breaks into a smile.
I just fell in love…. Zinnia is an angel….literally-Pam
My mother never cared for dogs but after she was admitted to the memory care unit, she was always excited to see the therapy dog. We laughed and shook our heads to see the complete change in her attitude about dogs.
I had a dog like Zinnia, she was a natural. She knew who wanted to her to come close and who didn’t, she let them come her. She knew if they just wanted to pat her head or if they wanted her to lay her head on their knee. She knew when one woman who was bed-ridden and non-communicative needed her to get up on her bed. When I told her to get down the woman spoke the only words I ever heard her say – let her stay. Casey was a very special dog, just like Zinnia.
I love your pictures of memory care with Zinna, What a special dog she is and just knows what to do. My father was in memory care and always loved the dogs to come each week.
Thanks Ruth, she is quite special…