In this month’s Play Monday we
had some unexpected and unpredictable guests.
Lamb, Parakeet, Chicken and
Dogs… Quite odd to a Health Unit, don’t you think?
The answer is no! When the
objective of their presence is to make them laugh, interact or play. And for
that, they took action without asking anything in exchange!
Their presence brings benefits
in a emotional, physical and psychological level. Studies demonstrate that
Animal Assisted Therapy allows reducing the blood pressure, reducing the
hormones related to distress and raising the “good mood” compounds in the
brain, turning it into an essential
cardex in our institution.
Once more, the team work was
important in the animal acquisition and in the execution of this play. All the
collaborators were involved and helped turning this special moment funnier and
unique.
After the afternoon snack, the
clients went to the recreation room so they would participate in the dynamic
planned on the weekly activity schedule, since this timetable was assigned to
the Speech Therapist.
During this dynamic,
unexpectedly, a chicken appeared to give the kick-start to our play. It was a
little bit scared with the public in contrast to our clients that revealed
enthusiasm and astonishment in their expressions! “What is a chicken doing were?
Where did it come from?” Ms V. encouraged by us, got up from her armchair and
picked up the chicken like she did many times in her life! After that, Mr M.C
took the initiative and grabbed it by the wings without fear, petted it and
evaluated if it was “good to eat” and if it had eggs or not!
Next, the chicken passed
through some clients, petting and some laughs were heard in the UMDR!
(Medium-Term and Rehabilitation Unit)´
A “Baaaaaa” was heard in the
end of the hall, the lamb wanted to join the party and so it was… Since Mr M.C
was “putting his hands” into it, e picked up the lamb and petted it, meanwhile
the other clients started to interact with the animal, mentioning some
knowledge and some memories.
The lamb and the chicken left
the stage and it was the time to the dogs and the parakeet (inside a cage) to
join our party.
In that instant, the clients
were surprised, many smiles was showed, many arms and many hands moved
naturally to pet the dogs that were in the room. Since the dog is a curious and
docile animal, it sniffed all the room and the clients, receiving and giving
all the care and kindness that it was given to it. Many memories of their loyal
friends were witnessed in this play! Some clients threw the ball so the dogs
would catch it, some clients called them…
An unexpected visit and that
certainly provided a moment of joy and nostalgia happened when Nurse Marisol
and Physiotherapist Sílvia went to Mr J.B.’s room with a dog called Muna. When
he saw the dog, he became moved and it remembered his old dog. He petted the
dog and it was such a joy!
And it was like this, a
afternoon spent playing! This time, with special collaborators that brought
happiness and innovation to our institution.
After many thoughts/opinions about the pros and cons
of animal presence in an Health Unit, the Team (including the Infection Control
responsible team) considered that this event, isolated, it would have less
damage and it would be beneficial to our clients in a way to promote well-being
and a life quality.
Yet in the Unit’s hall,
Raquel already was playing with her car and made a grand entrance in the
Recreation Room. All the clients started to peek so they could figure out from
where was that sound, but they quickly focused on the car. Their faces where a
bit confused “There’s a car going back and forth in the room… Why?”
Well, it wasn’t just one,
but four! And the four cars entered in the “racing track” so it could be drove
by our clients. We were all forming a circle, clients, health professionals and
even Mr J.C’s wife, that decided to visit him and that wanted to join to our
play. Let’s go?
And so it was, four
different “drivers” each lap, our clients played with the cars. Some said that
they never played with cars like that “That one even turns on the car
headlights!” said Mr A.
Ms F. started to think
that each time that a car passed near
her, that it would collide so she would
avoid them with her feet.
After the training with
the cars, we made a race to see with were the fastest cars to arrive to the
finish line, but it wasn’t a real competition, we just wanted to play a little
bit more.
This time we also had
new Players: the Physiotherapist and Doctor Domingos who joined to our usual
PlayMonday team!
