2023-07-18 10:53:23
LR Teschl-Hofmeister: “Animal-assisted activities are extremely important when looking following our residents”
St. Polten (OTS/NLK) – A wide variety of animals regularly visit the Lower Austrian care, support and support centers and support the residents in their therapy. This not only contributes to their health, but also the fun in everyday life is not neglected.
“Animal-assisted activities play a tremendous role in the care of our residents. It always makes me happy when I look at the beaming faces when animal visitors come and are cuddled and played. You really notice how the residents are blossoming and how the interaction with the animals contributes to their well-being,” says Provincial Councilor Christiane Teschl-Hofmeister.
The range of animal visits is varied. Whether dogs, cats, horses, chickens, rabbits – every species of animal evokes special emotions in the residents or evokes memories of earlier times. Some care centers have their own animal enclosures, where feeding and caring for the animals together is part of the daily routine. At other locations, trained animal therapists visit the residents, and sometimes employees bring their pets with them to make them happy.
There are also regular animal visits in the Melk Care and Care Center. “For us, goats provide a welcome change in everyday life. At the same time, they bring regarding a remarkable therapeutic success, especially in residents with dementia,” explains the director of the PBZ Melk, Schachinger Josef.
Jennifer Karpf, a trained animal therapist, visits the care center with her two four-legged friends regarding once or twice a month. “Without exception, the residents react positively to the goat visit. I’m happy when I can contribute to people’s mental health with my animals,” emphasizes Karpf. “And if someone can’t get out of bed, we’ll just come right into the room. It can sometimes happen that you come across a goat in a resident’s bed,” adds Karpf.
Magdalena Schild has also been doing animal therapy with her dog Nala at the Melk care center since June. And soon she will bring her therapy goats too.
Further information: media service@noe-lga.at
Questions & contact:
Office of the Lower Austrian provincial government
State Office Directorate/Public Relations
Philip Hebenstreit
02742/9005-13632
presse@noel.gv.at
www.noe.gv.at/presse
1689677643
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