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Therapy dog a welcome visitor: Woody is docile, friendly and a boon for seniors

By Bruce Posten, Reading Eagle, Pa. on

Published in Cats & Dogs News

Bill Brown will tell you that the beloved pooch, a majestic Irish wolfhound, has a distinguished historical pedigree. They were sought by kings and presidents to guard pens, hunt wolves and even engage in battle.

Brown, 72, of Boyertown owns three of the dogs.

One of them, Woody, 7 years old and weighing 160 pounds, is docile and friendly.

If Woody gets tired of standing around and being petted, the pooch will plop onto the nearest couch or lap, often uninvited.

But usually Woody is welcomed most everywhere.

Believe it or not, Woody is a certified pet therapist.

Recently, Brown and Woody were guests of two senior citizens, Catherine Miller, 89, and Carolyn Detwiler, 81, at an Amity Township senior citizen cottage.

"Woody is my alarm clock," said Brown, a widower and retired salesman. "I never sleep past 7 a.m. because he's always there to nuzzle or lick my face."

Brown enjoys having Woody serve as pet therapist for seniors in a variety of lifestyle communities. He also takes Woody to listen patiently to elementary schoolchildren improving their reading skills.

On this particular visit, Brown socialized with the senior women and their aide, Nan Rhoads, a certified nursing assistant, while talking about Woody's exercise needs, eating regimen and historical lineage and quirky habits.

For their part, the seniors petted Woody, admired him and listened attentively.

"Oh, he's a pretty boy," said Detwiler, "I hope you have the room for him to exercise."

Brown assured her he did.

Overall, in this particular intimate cottage setting, it was like having a big, hairy, bushy-bearded friend for afternoon tea, without having the tea.

Providing relaxed pet therapy. 24-hour home-health aides and even social interaction with neighbors are all a part of a growing residential alternative option for senior citizens. Even though they may not be able to continue to maintain a home, they still enjoy the lifestyle of a homelike setting.

Opened in January, the Amity Township Cottage is the second in Berks County by Advantage Home Care, a subsidiary of the nonprofit Home Health Care Management Inc., which is also the parent company of the Berks and Pottstown visiting nurse associations.

 

The first cottage was opened in the summer of 2013 in Bern Township, and a third opened in late November in the same area, said Lucille Gough, HHCM president and chief executive officer.

She said there are plans to open five more cottages.

Gough said all the cottages can handle three residents, each with their own bedrooms. They also are places that provide residents with 24-hour care.

"It's a 3-to-1 ratio between a caregiver and clients, so residents have more freedom," Gough said. "There's no waiting for a response to call bells. Residents can get up and have breakfast when they want or even assist with normal daily activities, whether it's folding laundry or helping plan menus."

She said all current senior cottage residents are on the state waiver program, receiving supplementary low-income assistance. But she said those eligible to live in the cottages can range from low- to middle-income seniors who can afford private pay.

"I really like it here, and I like the people," said Detwiler, a retired nursing assistant who used to live in Berks Heim. "You can get more individual attention, and I enjoy the people."

As the caregiver team leader, Rhoads said she also preferred working in the cottages because of the one-on-one care that can be provided to the client.

"You're not on as strict a schedule and you don't have to rush so much in helping the residents," she said. "I think it's a really good alternative for some elderly, but also for those delivering the care."

Brookside Homes of America Corp., headquartered in Erie, is the private business that established the single-family residences for seniors needing health care services.

The payment for room and board goes to Brookside, while HHCM is reimbursed for the required health care component of home-health aides or skilled nursing.

Contact Bruce R. Posten: 610-371-5059 or bposten@readingeagle.com.

(c)2014 the Reading Eagle (Reading, Pa.)

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