Perham Living’s pet therapy program brings a warm, comforting presence and plays an integral part in enhancing the quality of life for residents. Madison Malstrom, Resident Engagement Manager, passionately speaks about animals’ positive impact on residents and employees. “The benefits are just out of this world,” she says. “When a dog walks into the room, everybody just lights up.”

For years, dogs have been frequent visitors at Perham Living, brought in by family members and employees, who are allowed to bring their pets to work. Recently, Perham Living partnered with a local dog training organization to host classes for dogs working toward therapy certification. This collaboration allows the dogs to experience the sights and sounds of a nursing home and learn how to behave with the residents.

“The dogs practice what it’s like to be beside a wheelchair, going on the elevator, and visiting with the residents who want to see the dogs. We have a big courtyard where the dogs run around, and the residents play catch with them. Because they need lots of hours to become certified therapy dogs, the dogs and their owners come outside of class to visit the residents,” says Madison.

Resident Mark L. talks about how much he looks forward to the dogs’ visit, “I love to see their wagging tails and how excited they get just to come see us.”

These therapy dogs visit residents who might need a little extra love, providing moments of joy and companionship. “I’ll give the volunteers a list of residents who might need a little extra TLC or enjoy dogs,” Madison explains.

These visits help spark conversations about their childhood and evoke happy memories of their pets. “It’s like having my Daisy back,” says resident Buzz as he pets one of the therapy dogs.

The benefits to the residents are noticeable. “We have a resident who has difficulty hearing, so he tends to stay in his room. However, he created a special bond with Bella, a two-and-a-half-year-old Toy Maltese that belongs to Kathy Schrandt-Calmus, a household coordinator. He started taking Bella on walks and had her nap in his room. We noticed that his emotions and behaviors became more positive, and he began to eat more, which is huge,” recalls Madison.

“We have another resident with dementia who has a special bond with dogs. This resident often feels confused about where he is or gets frustrated because he can’t leave the building, but when he sees a dog, the sweetest, gentlest side of him comes out. He becomes gentle and nurturing, taking the dog on little walks around the facility as if it’s his own,” she describes.

“It’s amazing how someone can go from having a tough day to a great day when a dog enters the room,” she adds. “The dogs also give them a sense of fulfillment,” Madison says. “Not only joy, but a sense of purpose.”

Employees benefit from being able to bring their dogs to work. Having pets at work helps relieve stress and breaks up the routine.

Jennifer Love, Household Coordinator, agrees: “I love bringing my dog Bennie in and seeing the residents’ faces light up. They love talking to him and watching him check out his surroundings. He gets me out of my office and keeps me moving more throughout the day. It’s hard to have a bad day when your four-legged friend is wagging his tail behind you all day.”

 Nurse Kamara Johnson brings her dog, Harley, in a couple of times a month. “One of the residents is always asking when Harley will be back. The funny thing is he isn’t a dog person. When Harley follows me into the resident’s room, she might hop up on the bed to nap or sit beside the wheelchair so the resident can pet her. A few residents will sneak food to her,” she says.

Dogs aren’t the only pets bringing the residents joy. Perham Living has a pet cat that lives in one of the houses. Occasionally, family members from local farms bring in animals like goats or bunnies, and the facility has even hosted visits from a miniature horse. These unique visits and the annual pet show organized by the 4-H program bring an extra level of excitement and nostalgia for residents, many of whom grew up around animals.

Overall, the pet therapy program at Perham Living reminds us of the healing power of animals. From encouraging residents to be more social and active to providing them with a sense of connection and purpose, these pets have truly become part of the Perham Living family. Madison sums it up beautifully: “Pets offer unconditional love, and they help bring a piece of everyday life back to the residents.”

Perham Health Public Relations

About Perham Health 

Perham Health is a 25-bed Critical Access Hospital with three primary care clinics, a 96-bed nursing home, home health care agency, adult day services, memory care assisted living, and senior housing.  The medical staff consists of 24 physicians, a nurse midwife, 14 advance practice clinicians, and three chiropractors. Visit perhamhealth.org to learn more.