For all of recorded history, humans have been living alongside their pets. For many people, having an animal companion along for the ride during the ups and downs of living is a comfort that can’t be matched, and it can cause a significant amount of distress to both the person and the animal to be separated.
Center for Hospice Care (CHC) understands how stressful this situation can be, which is why it partners with organizations like Pet Peace of Mind to make sure that, as people enter into end-of-life care, the needs of their pets can still be met, allowing owners to keep their fuzzy friends.
“Pet Peace of Mind is a national nonprofit organization that works with hospice agencies,” said CHC Volunteer Services Manager Kristiana Donahue. “We partner with them to provide a formal process where we pair up volunteers to take care of the pet needs of our patients.”
Through the partnership between CHC and Pet Peace of Mind, volunteers handle everything from walking dogs to scooping litter boxes. Volunteers also help pets get to necessary vet appointments and even have a hand in rehoming animals as needed. This lets owners spend as much time with their pets as possible during hospice care.
“We understand that pets are such a big part of the family life of our patients and their families. Pets are a part of their emotional, spiritual, and social well-being,” said Donahue. “When families are caring for their loved one, may be added stress for them. If we can alleviate some of that, it helps the family be able to keep their pets in the home.”
Even patients who enter CHC without pets can now experience animal companionship in the form of the newest member of the hospice team: Teddy.
Teddy is a Mini Australian Labradoodle who has served as a therapy dog at CHC’s Mishawaka campus since the end of January.
“We purchased Teddy through Ultimate Canine, a wonderful program in Westfield, Indiana,” Donahue said. “Even within his first full week of work, we've seen family members’ faces light up. There are many benefits for the families, the patients, and the staff. Staff are excited to see Teddy too.”
Teddy’s main role at CHC is to provide comfort to patients during their time in end-of-life care. This can mean anything from visiting a patient to laying in bed with them.
“Teddy's duty is to provide comfort and joy to our patients, families, and staff,” said Donahue. “He has two therapy commands; one is to visit and one is to snuggle. Out of 10, he’s got a cuteness factor of 12. He absolutely loves people, wants to say hi, and he's doing a great job.”
Whether patients bring their own pets or enjoy visits from Teddy, CHC is committed to helping all of its patients have access to a four-legged friend when they need it. These programs help CHC achieve its overall goal of making end-of-life care as comfortable as it can be for patients.
“Our goal in hospice is to look out for the patient’s total well-being, and pets are part of that,” said Donahue. “It’s so important that patients are able to spend quality time with those that are important to them, including their beloved pets.”
For more information on Center for Hospice Care and the quality end-of-life care it can provide, visit cfhcare.org.
