Rehabilitation Medicine
Pet Therapy
Man's best friend plays an important role on our Inpatient Rehabilitation Units. The Therapeutic Recreation department at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital works closely with the Volunteer Department, The Delta Society and the Good Dog Foundation to provide teams of trained dogs to visit patients as part of a therapeutic intervention.
Dogs have long been used as trained service animals for the blind and other people with disabilities, and now they are learning to be facilitators in therapeutic settings. Research on the health benefits of animals is extensive and the results are being put to good use. Owning a pet has been shown to increase social and verbal interaction, to help maintain function and improve ability to perform activities of daily living among the elderly. It has also been shown to decrease loneliness in residents of long term care facilities, enhances relaxation, and the most striking finding is that it lowers blood pressure.
Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) focuses on using the unique relationship between humans and animals for helping patients to reach therapeutic goals, whether physically, psychologically, socially, or emotionally. Dogs can give someone a reason to take a walk, improve balance, retrieve objects, sit for a good brushing, or just provide companionship, non-judgmental support, and a fun-loving attitude. We hope to welcome many more visits from our new friends and old friends alike.
