anniek

I work at a large facility where the Eden alternative was in place when I started there, The Front lobby if filled with plant life and a small water fountain, and there are about 5 dogs and probably an equal number of cats (1 for each unit in the facility). There is an Eden staff week days as well as weekends, they provide for the care of the pets. The only time nursing staff may have to do this is if the cat threw up on the floor, so far this seems to work out well. There are also birds in resident rooms, and a large cage in the hall with 3 birds, at least on my unit. There are residents that love to see the dog and/or cats and the birds and there are residents that don't want the dog inside. The dogs seem very perceptive in staying away from the residents that don't like them. The first cat on my unit was very friendly with the residents and slept on there beds/ in there closet/or on there window sill, he was old and ill and now we have a new cat that is happy to sleep at the nurses desk, usually on the chart that you are charting on at the moment. I never was much of a pet lover but they all seem to live in harmony, and for the residents that enjoy it I think its worth it.