Silver Surfers Lancashire

31 www.silverlivingmagazine.co.uk A GROUP of very special visitors to hospital wards is helping put a smile on patients’ faces. The four-legged friends are helping to relax people and put them at ease during their hospital stay. Stepping Hill Hospital in Stockport has six therapy dogs making regular visits to its wards and community hospitals in the area. They have even been joined by a friendly donkey who cheers up patients with visits one of the smaller hospitals. Pet therapy is a way of helping patients relax by the simple of means of letting them interact with friendly animals. It has been shown to release endorphins that produce a calming effect, and can help alleviate pain, reduce stress, and provide psychological support. Health chiefs are delighted by the positive impact the animals are making. The latest canine recruit is Daphne, a friendly mongrel who was saved from the street. She usually visits older patients, while others are assigned to children’s areas. Like the others she has a very gentle nature and has been certified as a ‘Pets as Therapy’ dog. Pet therapy runs aside other innovative forms of patient support run at Stepping Hill and in the the community, including musical therapy, film evenings, hand massages, manicures ‘Pooches for patients’ is just the tonic and craft activities. It is all about making the patient’s stay as positive as possible. Emma Rogers, matron for patient experience at Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, says: “The introduction of pet therapy in the past year has been a real success story. “Both the dogs and the donkey have been bringing a lot of joy to a lot of patients. “Patients who don’t have so many visitors find them particularly comforting, but they really have got down well across the board. In fact, they have gone down so well that we’re on the lookout for more.” Discover the freedom of renting... call: 0800 525 184 visit: www.girlings.co.uk Register to find your new home... The specialist retirement property letting agent All the benefits of retirement living Long term assured ‘lifetime’ tenancies No service charges to pay Landlord is responsible for maintenance No property ownership responsibilities Flexibility to live or move where and when you want Age exclusive retirement properties available to rent nationwide