Patients at North Ridge Medical Center can now have a different kind of visitors: therapy cats.
The Animal Assisted Activities program will serve to enhance the quality of a patients stay at NRMC by improving their health and rate of healing via the positive physiological effect of human-animal interaction.
While pet therapy is not new, bringing the pets to a hospital is and having cats as part of the therapy group is unique. Traditionally, pet therapy has been utilized mostly in nursing homes featuring dogs only.
“Pet therapy is in line with our hospitals unique approach of friendly medical care with a smile,” said Dianne Aleman, North Ridge Medical Center CEO. “We try to go out of our way to make our patients feel at home while under our care, and having a therapy dog or cat come by a patients bed and visit makes a hospital stay even more comfortable. It makes total sense for a hospital to offer this bona-fide, holistic therapy to patients.”
The AAA adds to the patients sense of caring and distracts them from their suffering. It also combats loneliness and pleasantly provides the patients a reprieve from the hospital regimens. Patients are consulted prior to visits whether they would like a visit and to ensure they have no pet allergies.
