Animal Assisted Therapy
Pet owners understand the unequivocal bond that can form between humans and their pets. But did you know that the animal-human bond can also provide healing? It is called Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) and Animal Assisted Activities (AAA) as seen in the pictures of the elderly people below.
An employee at the Fichardtpark Retirement Village in Bloemfontein, Mrs Coryna Nothnagel, contacted Judy Van Zyl from Pet Action to help them with the AAT Therapy. Several eldery people in the Fichardtpark Retirement Village suffers from Alzheimers Disease. According to Nothnagel, the condition of the elderly has changed dramatically since Judy and her 4-legged friends came to visit.
It is a very informal program, but it defenitely works. It is mainly used to awake emotions in the elderly who suffers from Alzheimers. Judy and her colleague, Hettie Fourie, take the dogs to visit the elderly people every second week. They touch the dogs, talk to them and some of them even take the dogs for short walks. One of the residents couldn't speak at all, but since Judy and the dogs came to visit, she suddenly started to speak again.
It is so heart warming to see the positive influence the AAT Theraphy have on the elderly people, said Judy.
Bank Details
Absa
Account: 4059749310
Branch: 580105
Reference: 50003950025
(Manual Payments)
Investec Private Bank
Account: 50003950025
Branch: 580105
(Internet Payments)
Wish List
Financial support
Dog kennels
Dog and cat food
Dog collars
Volunteers