2009-02-29

Local care center goes to the dogs & cat

By Stephanie Parker

Recent studies prove that people with pets live longer and cope with stress better than non-pet owners, partly because petting a dog lowers blood pressure.

Animals in care facilities boost patients’ moods and enhance social interaction. However, caregivers at Bandera’s Cedar Creek Nursing Center needed no scientific studies to verify that. They already had living proof in Muffin, Murphy and Tesa.

Muffin belongs to a Cedar Creek resident who refused to enter the care facility without her beloved pet. Cedar Creek, however, belongs to Murphy and Tesa.

Murphy had an owner before becoming the owner of Cedar Creek. The golden cocker spaniel first belonged to Kenneth Childs who dictated that after he died, the nursing home would adopt Murphy.

Instead of the nursing home adopting the dog, the dog adopted the nursing home. Simply put, Murphy is the boss – and some say – a “very spoiled boss” at that.

Activity Director Rosa Lopez, who has been at Cedar Creek for 10 years, explained, “Almost all the residents keep treats in their rooms for Murphy. He loves everyone and everyone loves him. You can see a change in the patients when they are with Murphy. They smile. They are more joyful. Even when they don’t talk much, they talk to him.”

Murphy’s favorite is Ronald Calloway, who takes the dog out to sit in the sun with him. “He wakes me up in the morning,” Calloway said. “He comes to my room when he wants to go out. And if anyone spots him in town, they need to bring him back. He belongs here.”

But while Calloway might be Murphy’s favorite, Murphy is everyone’s favorite. When residents see him, they exclaim, “That’s my baby!”

Lopez said that Cedar Park residents stay involved all day every day. Activities include manicures, singing, Bible classes, reading sessions, dominoes, bingo, chapel, painting, bowling, special occasion parties, trivia, physical and occupational therapy and treats like coffee and root beer floats. However, residents are never too busy to stop their activities when they see Murphy approaching. They are always eager and willing to take time out to pet Murphy or to find a treat for him.

Tesa is feted much the same, but she stays outside while Murphy lives inside. When Tesa hears her name called, she zooms through the yard and up to the patio, equally willing to throw herself into a lap for petting or sit beside her dish waiting for meals or a treat.

Resident Linda Ross found the injured kitten. She explained, “A friend of mine took her to the vet to have her spayed. They couldn’t save her tail so it had to be removed. She’s a sweet cat and loves everybody. She loves to sit on my lap.”

Lopez says she sees an immediate improvement in patients after they have spent time with Murphy or Tesa. “They are always happier and more involved in their surroundings. I think having the animals around is good therapy for them.”

Along with daily pet therapy, Cedar Creek offers occupational, speech and physical therapy. Paul Centi said that Cedar Creek is privileged, unlike many places that offer therapy, to be equipped with a standing frame for residents to utilize. “Occupational therapy helps patients retrain and reuse their upper and lower body – like eating and transferring to a toilet. Physical therapy helps them strengthen their entire body and builds up endurance.”

Like an encouraging trainer, Murphy makes trips to the physical therapy room to visit Centi and his patients. And if anyone has remembered to bring a treat along with them to give to Murphy – well, that’s just an added plus for the doggie boss.

Bandera’s Cedar Creek Nursing Center made major changes last September. They added Director of Nurses Annie Dunn, Assistant Director of Nurses Misty Clark and Director Curt Wesson.

The change in personnel also included new goals such as enabling families and the community to be more involved in patient care and helping the patients feel more at home at the center. A facelift is in order for the building that is more than 40 years old.

One change that has not been made is to deprive residents of in-house pet therapy, provided by the loveable Murphy and Tesa. Lopez, Dunn and Clark exclaimed in unison, “I don’t know what the residents would do without them!”