MONROE - One of the newest staff members at Pleasant View Nursing Home, does not fit the usual mold of a long term care employee, or of any type of employee.
His name is DiNozzo, and he is just under three years old. Also setting DiNozzo apart from other staff members at Pleasant View is the fact that he is a Great Dane. DiNozzo is a certified therapy dog, specially trained to be an integral part of day to day life in a nursing home setting.
DiNozzo's inclusion in the staff came about as the result of a two-for-one hiring. In December of this last year, Pleasant View Nursing Home director Terry Hensel was searching for someone to manage and supervise the activities department, which is now known as Life Enrichment. Jenn Stollenwerk had the credentials and work experience that Hensel was searching for, and also the added plus of DiNozzo the Certified Therapy Dog.
"He came as part of the package," Stollenwerk said.
Hensel was particularly pleased as a therapy dog was one of the items on her wish list for Pleasant View, but not something that could be budgeted for.
With the hiring of Stollenwerk the home also was gaining a trained certified therapy dog, and with a price tag that couldn't be better- no charge.
"DiNozzo costs Pleasant View absolutely nothing," Stollenwerk said. "I pay for his care, food and veterinarian visits." DiNozzo is also Stollenwerk's family dog.
Hensel was intent on assuring everyone on staff at Pleasant View as well as residents and their families that DiNozzo was an important addition. "When I announced the hiring, I announced that the two of them had been hired," Hensel said. DiNozzo is now a part of a therapy animal staff that also includes two cats and two birds. The purpose of having pets at a skilled care nursing facility is multifold. Hensel explains that nursing facilities began the push to become less institutional and more home-like in the early 1980s.
"The philosophy is to bring life into the facility, with animals, plants, families and children,"
She added that it takes two to three years to fully reach that goal. The relationship between DiNozzo and Pleasant View residents has had immediate positive results. For many of the residents he not only provides a change of pace in the day, but also an opportunity to re-focus on the positives in their lives. One resident who looks forward to DiNozzo's regular visits to her room is Dorothy Porterfield.
"It's nice to have a dog come in, it brings back memories, we always had dogs and cats on our farm," Porterfield said.
The jogging of the memory is one of the types of therapy provided by DiNozzo and his co-workers.
"It's called Reminiscence Therapy," said Hensel. She explained that using all the senses to bring back the memories of a senior's past helps in their attempts to focus on the immediate moment. "It's very effective," said Hensel.
DiNozzo, being a Great Dane is a very large dog and according to Stollenwerk is even taller than the average Great Dane. While some might assume that a dog with such great size would intimidate, the opposite has proven to be true because of DiNozzo's gentle nature and ability to gently interact with the residents. Gloria Wright is one resident who loves to interact with such a large and gentle dog.
"When I was little we had a huge dog named Pal," Wright said. The Therapy animal staff of DiNozzo, two cats named Rose and Biff, a Finch and a Parakeet are performing the function of bringing life to Pleasant View daily.
His name is DiNozzo, and he is just under three years old. Also setting DiNozzo apart from other staff members at Pleasant View is the fact that he is a Great Dane. DiNozzo is a certified therapy dog, specially trained to be an integral part of day to day life in a nursing home setting.
DiNozzo's inclusion in the staff came about as the result of a two-for-one hiring. In December of this last year, Pleasant View Nursing Home director Terry Hensel was searching for someone to manage and supervise the activities department, which is now known as Life Enrichment. Jenn Stollenwerk had the credentials and work experience that Hensel was searching for, and also the added plus of DiNozzo the Certified Therapy Dog.
"He came as part of the package," Stollenwerk said.
Hensel was particularly pleased as a therapy dog was one of the items on her wish list for Pleasant View, but not something that could be budgeted for.
With the hiring of Stollenwerk the home also was gaining a trained certified therapy dog, and with a price tag that couldn't be better- no charge.
"DiNozzo costs Pleasant View absolutely nothing," Stollenwerk said. "I pay for his care, food and veterinarian visits." DiNozzo is also Stollenwerk's family dog.
Hensel was intent on assuring everyone on staff at Pleasant View as well as residents and their families that DiNozzo was an important addition. "When I announced the hiring, I announced that the two of them had been hired," Hensel said. DiNozzo is now a part of a therapy animal staff that also includes two cats and two birds. The purpose of having pets at a skilled care nursing facility is multifold. Hensel explains that nursing facilities began the push to become less institutional and more home-like in the early 1980s.
"The philosophy is to bring life into the facility, with animals, plants, families and children,"
She added that it takes two to three years to fully reach that goal. The relationship between DiNozzo and Pleasant View residents has had immediate positive results. For many of the residents he not only provides a change of pace in the day, but also an opportunity to re-focus on the positives in their lives. One resident who looks forward to DiNozzo's regular visits to her room is Dorothy Porterfield.
"It's nice to have a dog come in, it brings back memories, we always had dogs and cats on our farm," Porterfield said.
The jogging of the memory is one of the types of therapy provided by DiNozzo and his co-workers.
"It's called Reminiscence Therapy," said Hensel. She explained that using all the senses to bring back the memories of a senior's past helps in their attempts to focus on the immediate moment. "It's very effective," said Hensel.
DiNozzo, being a Great Dane is a very large dog and according to Stollenwerk is even taller than the average Great Dane. While some might assume that a dog with such great size would intimidate, the opposite has proven to be true because of DiNozzo's gentle nature and ability to gently interact with the residents. Gloria Wright is one resident who loves to interact with such a large and gentle dog.
"When I was little we had a huge dog named Pal," Wright said. The Therapy animal staff of DiNozzo, two cats named Rose and Biff, a Finch and a Parakeet are performing the function of bringing life to Pleasant View daily.