Greyhound Rescue’s Australian first program, Hounds Helping Humans, is set to bring the joy of spending time with animals to more senior Australians following a successful trial.
Greyhound Rescue’s teams of handlers and hounds have been visiting residents at HammondCare’s Horsley, Wahroonga, and Darlinghurst aged care homes since June last year in a pilot program that has delivered tremendous results and improved outcomes for residents.
The partnership will now expand to more residential aged care sites, following an internal review that proved the program’s positives; strengthened relationships, elevated mood, and increased social connections were just some of the clear benefits for those involved.
“The greyhounds have brought joy to the faces of the residents involved throughout the pilot,” says HammondCare CEO Mike Baird.
“This is one innovative way that we can achieve our ambition to set the global standard for relationship-based care for people with complex needs.”
Many of the 2000 HammondCare residents who will potentially benefit live with dementia. Scientific research has found significant health benefits for people living with dementia from animal engagement, and previous animal engagement programs with seniors have pointed to improved quality of life through decreased loneliness and depression, increased physical activity, and improved socialisation.
Dementia Centre Head of Clinical Services Associate Professor Steve Macfarlane says “research has found significant health benefits for people living with dementia from animal engagement.”
“Previous animal engagement programs with seniors have pointed to improved quality of life through decreased loneliness and depression, increasing physical activity and improved socialisation.”
“What better way to evaluate the success of animal engagement than to see the reactions from the residents – they clearly enjoy the interactions immensely.”
“Greyhounds were great for people in aged care because of their calm, affectionate nature and their higher stature, making them accessible to people confined to beds, chairs or wheelchairs.”
According to Greyhound Rescue President Nat Panzarino, feedback the feedback from handlers has also been incredibly positive.
“The handlers have absolutely loved being involved as well, it’s very fulfilling, and for many of the hounds, it has quickly become their favourite activity,” says Nat.
One handler spoke of the reactions the hounds managed to evoke out of residents.
“One lady in the common area was just sitting and smiling at my Greyhound Perseus. She couldn’t take her eyes off him and was grinning ear to ear. Feedback from other residents was this was a special reaction – she doesn’t normally react to anything!”
As a volunteer-run organisation, Greyhound Rescue relies on the public’s generosity to fund programs like Hounds Helping Humans.
If you’d like to show your support, you can make a contribution and donate here.