Pet therapy Project SMILE in hospital

Pet therapy Project SMILE in Hospital

Hello! I am Irutė-Faustina from Lithuania. I work as an Pastoral Care Specialist in Vilnius nursing hospital in which patients with difficult illnesses are tended. I communicate a lot with patients who feels lonely all the time, are depressed, or abandoned by their families.

My wish is to bring happiness for those who are unable to step out of their beds or wheelchairs, because of their illness.

The question of human value it is so important. We can not leave lonely, crashed human to only medical treatment, for their to only exist till the day they die. We must help them live spiritual life till they leave this world to another, better one eternal life. I really want to stop those people loneliness and be a little flame of joy for their lives. A meeting with a kitten or a puppy would be precious happiness moment in their painful day. Now all they have is memories about their young days, but animals could bring those happy days back in a real life for once. Pets make us happy. They provide unconditional love and comfort. For the elderly with dementia, depression declines after they interact with a therapy animal.

Pet Therapy program would help elder sick people have this opportunity to meet therapy animals. Visiting therapy animals can help ease feelings of loneliness and lift the spirits. They provide unconditional love to anyone with a soft lap and open arms.

The Mental Health Benefits of Emotional Support

Animals and Comfort Pets :

lifts spirits and lessens depression,

lowers feelings of isolation and alienation,

encourages communication,

provides comfort,

increases socialization,

lessens boredom,

reduces anxiety,

creates motivation for the patients to recover faster,

reduces loneliness.

Many seniors may have lost their spouses, or they simply miss having a dog snuggled next to them in bed. For them, visiting dogs help fulfill the simple need to touch and be touched. Dogs can also help reduce anxiety, provide comfort and even promote social interaction among other patients. Animal-assisted therapy is advised for patients needing a more intensive therapy regimen. Patients are paired with highly sensitive animals as part of their rehabilitation.

Your donation will have a tremendous impact on the creation of these Pet therapy in hospital Project SMILE.

Thank you very much in advanced!