Sometimes all you need is a little puppy love.
And thanks to a couple of warm-hearted dogs, the patients in the Acute Care for the Elderly Unit Greater Baltimore Medical Center got to experience puppy love firsthand.
On Dec. 18, Gunner, a 4-year-old poodle, and Tucket, an 11-year-old Labrador retriever, visited the hospital with their owners, Sandra and Dr. Samuel Lumpkin. The Lumpkins volunteer with National Capital Therapy Dogs, an affiliate of the Delta Society?s Pet Partners Program, a nonprofit organization that provides animal-assisted services.
“We?ve always known that the dogs induce relaxation and reduce anxiety,” Lumpkin said. “But in 2006, the American Heart Association conducted a controlled study in which a patient?s resting heart rate and blood pressure were monitored while visiting with a human volunteer team and a dog and human volunteer team. The dog team actually had the most effect on inducing relaxation and reducing anxiety.”
Lumpkin began training Gunner for NCTD three years ago. She and the poodle visit the Gilchrist Center for Hospice Care every week, and at the ACE unit every other week. “Gunner can curl up in bed with patients or sit in their lap,” she said. “Tucket is so big, he just rests his head in their lap. His tail never stops wagging.”
Lewis Ireland, 85, a patient in the ACE unit at GBMC, said that the day the dogs paid their visit was wonderful. “I was excited,” he said. “I love dogs, I come from a family that always loved dogs and always had beautiful dogs.”
“The little pooch sat in my lap. He was very friendly to me,” Ireland said. “I fell in love with him and he fell in love with me.”
“Many seniors love their pets,” said Kathy Ruane, nurse practitioner for senior services at GBMC. “Some patients may miss the dog or cat they left at home. For others, these dogs remind them of a favorite pet they had in their healthier days.”
“I love to do the volunteer work, I have been an employee of GBMC for a while, so this is another way to connect with [the company],” Lumpkin said. “And I love doing dog activities. It?s just a natural for us to bridge those two things ? my love of dogs and giving back to the community.”
