Dogs Visiting the Retired or Elderly

I used to take one of our most sociable female Cavaliers to visit a group of very elderly nuns who used to sit outside their retirement home in the sunshine (sunshine ?? - obviously not this year in the UK !!).

Many said they had owned dogs previously, but were no longer allowed to and very much appreciated the chance to smooth and touch a dog.

I am sorry, I couldn't resist adding this non-dog story I read today :-
("A US cat with an apparent ability to sense when a nursing home's residents are about to die is baffling doctors.
Oscar has a habit of curling up next to patients at the home in Providence, Rhode Island, in their final hours.
The two-year-old cat has been correct in 25 cases so far and staff now alert the families of residents when he sits down next to their ailing loved one.
The case is the subject of a study in the latest issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Doctors say that when Oscar settles next to a patient, it can mean he or she may have as little as two hours to live.
"He doesn't make many mistakes. He seems to understand when patients are about to die," David Dosa, a professor at Brown University who carried out the research, told the Associated Press news agency").

More seriously, there are a considerable number of elderly care and retirement homes in the town in which I live and I would like to offer this very easy-going dog (Tanya) to visit, should the request be made.
However, I would like to learn of the experiences of others who do this (or have done in the past) to ensure I avoid pitfalls and do the thing properly, e.g insurance, local authority contacts, special training, etc.

I would be very surprised if *any* insititution would welcome you tese days, unless you were a member of PAT dogs (pets as therapy) or similar.
The criteria to qualify (as well as testing) is quite simple, and is detailed on their site.

hth

not all ....................cara is the star of our local residential home she isn't PAT trained just loved by all the oldies

dogs brighten up there day just imagine all those laps to sit on and all those faces to lick LOL

http://www.petsastherapy.org/

I'm sure they would welcome you with open arms, it is well worth signing up with them as they wil help you find places to go and liase with them for you.
Morris (our collie) was registered years ago but shame on me I never got round to going anywhere with him, bit too busy with the pups now...but would certianly consider this with future dogs. There is a member r 2 on here that do this through PAT dogs isn't there??? someone with a leonburger???? Help someone???

I found the PAT site and can see what I need to know.
It all seems reasonable and logical.

Thank you for your help and direction.

IMO its best to go as part of a group. Sometimes things happen that aren't your fault, and its best to have the insurance and backing of a group.