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Show - yMnWy- y ., fIS MulAk 1 V . d J K'm '4 t " N y ' f t , i l 4 Ir'l f i .W 7 ;vVI 'S1 Paoe IB North tdition Lakeside Review November 25, 1983 Friday, Animals Bring Sunshine to Elderly Patients Lives SHELLEY KANCITIS into Weber room, Mrs. Higgins immediately begin? dispensing doses of love in the form of furry fanimals. Anybody want to hold this one? she asks as she lifts up a spotted kitten. A severely palsied, middle aged man gestures excitedly. Mrs. Higgins nestles the kitten in the curve of his arm. He jerkily moves his head toward its body and is rewarded with a wet As she walks Review Correspondent ROY The film is over and residents of Weber Memorial Care Center in Roy sit quietly in wheelchairs expecting to return to their rooms. But Yvonne knows today is special. The animals are coming. The animals are coming, she announces. ; And in they come; Punkin, a orange and white cat dressed in a red sweater, Cooter, an inquisitive raccoon, and handfuls of squirmy puppies and roly-pol- , Cares , y, multi-purpo- the emotionally disturbed. As, she glances around the room, Mrs. Higgins says, All you have to do is see the look in their eyes and the smiles on their lips to believe in the healing touch that animals bring. Prior to the animals arrival, Sarah, an elderly woman, sits slumped in a wheelchair; her blank stare and self imposed sin lence giving no clues to the se kiss. ' per-so- within. A volunteer approaches Sarah and gently places a kitten in her lap. Sarah looks slightly puzzled. Gradually she responds. Lifting the kitten up to her cheek, she murmurs, Grandmas kitty. Sarahs words bring tears to the eyes of Robert Thorup, Weber Cares director of recration. Normally she is completely unaware of the world around her. This has been a really positive J Oblivious to the mans contorted body and garbled speech, the kitten only senses his need to love and be loved. She drapes herself against his chest and purrs. Research has repeatedly shown that pets have therapeutic value. According to Alan Beck, director of the University of Pennsylvanias Center for the Interaction of Animals and Society, studies show that animals can reduce human stress, help in the recovery process following serious illnesses and provide therapy for kittens. They constitute the animal half of a newly formed organization, Punkins Pride F.U.R. (Feline Urban Rescue) Fund. Founder Marjie Higgins said the groups purpose is to enhance the physical and mental health of needy people by giving them contact with animals. Our goal is to recruit volunteers and raise money so we can make more visits to nursing homes and hospitals, said Mrs. Higgins. experience. Its hard for nursing home residents to express love since theres no one here theyre really close to. The animals provide a chance for them to give their love freely, said Thorup. Animals also provide reality orientation, an opportunity to briefly return to patterns of everyday life. Its very good for the residents to have an experience common to the outside world. Theyll talk about it for weeks, said Brent Barraclough, . an administrator in training. Cynthia, a gently faced grandmother, will not be able to talk about the animals she is petting. Instead she sings a joyous, melodic tune that fills the room. Its so neat to hear Cynthia sing. Shes lost her ability to speak, but when shes happy or excited, she sings, said Barra- dough. . As Higgins and Lynetrio , . Nicki Denny, another volunteer, prepare to leave, Anita S., a solenyv eyed young woman, wheels ivef , to them. Asleep in . her lap is Punkin,- - the organiza- - tions feliqe iticotj Would; you fike Jjfe ter; bring her baek? ask Mrs. Hoggins. Oh y&ji please dome; back, says Anita, ner eyes fitting will) tears. Well come back thatst ai: promT SHARING feelings of acceptance, patient and puppy gain warmth from visit ; ise. SOFTLY SINGING, patient at Weber Memorial Care Center gently rocks stray animal in her arms. convey their own healing touch a generosity, of spirit, that circumvents lack of time and raon. ey to bring joy, to others. -- animal friends Mrs. Higgins and other volunteers Like her at care center in Roy. The animals have a healing effect, doctors say. - For organizations wanting visits from Punkins Pride or peo ple willing to donate time or money, call Nicki Denny at 392-255- 3. Can Be Treated, Cured With Help i woman spends tims of depression, emphasized her. days at home. She has no Miss Sorenson, but they dont appetite, she cannot sleep, and ' seek treatment as often as womshe weeps often for no apparent en do. . reason. Depression may be brought Her family has left home and on by a specific loss in a perher husband has recently moved ' sons life, she said, for example, out and asked for a divorce. She the loss of a spouse or child feels useless and terrified. She through death, a divorce, or chilhas lately been considering suidren leaving home for good. De-- ; cide. Finally, concerned friends pression may also result from encourage her to seek help. She too many problems all at once, is admitted to a hospital psychisuch as financial difficulties, atric unit and diagnosed as sufproblems, with children or a fering from depression. marriage, or , poor physical This hypothetical case is typihealth, she added., ,, cal pf depressed people, accordDepression is an emotional ing to , JoLynn Sorenson, a illness which affects both the mind and the body, noted Dr. psychiatric nurse at McKay-De- e Richard C. Arbogast, medical di- -, Hospital in Ogden. rector of psychiatry. Arbogast V Depression is the most common of all emotional disorders has written a paper on depresand an illness which seems to af- sion in which he states that defect more women than men. It is pression is a world-wid- e characterized by feelings of problem affecting people of all cultures through history. hopelessness, helplessness, haplessness, she said. Depressed people, according Miss Sorenson said at least 50 to Arbogast, have a feeling of ' sadness or the blues. Accompercent of all patients admitted to.; the psychiatric ward at. panying this is a general loss of are diagnosed as interest in other people and acMcKay-De- e from depression, and tivity and a general decrease in suffering most of thete are women. energy. It isnt that men arent vic Common symptoms also in A 7 . - , . , - J S clude loss of weight due to a decrease in appetite and difficulty distur-bances- s, in concentrating and sleeping, noted Arbogast. The person with depression feels worthless and has frequent spells of crying, stated Dr. Arbogast. The depressed person may also become quite irritable, lem. he added. Depressed people are very prone to suicide or at least to an attempt on their own lives, according to Arbogast. People suffering from depression feel a devastating sense of hopelessness, that things will never get better. This hopelessness, in fact, seems to be a major factor contributing to the most serious . Failure to arrive at any consistently accepted classification is evidence that no one fully understands how and why people become depressed, Arbogast exBut certain people plained. seem clearly to have a biological vulnerability to depression, he added. For example, identical twins raised in separate households, are four times as likely to suffer from depression than nonidentical twins,. Arbogast noted. Brain chemistry of some individuals leaves them susceptible to a biochemical change in the brain that results from depression. A person may, for no apparent reason, experience a spontaneous type of depression due to a change in the amount of brain chemicals, Arbogast said. This seemingly spontaneous type of depression is often tabled as endogenous or from within. episode. -. , consequence of depression, namely, suicide." Depression is Some depressions, Arbogast continued, seem more a product of the persons personality than of their biochemistry. Patients with these types of depression have a world view and lifestyle which regularly leaves them coming up empty and frustrated. For them depression is a way of life rather than a discreet illness young children, such as social withdrawal and appetite may occur as often as corresponding patterns in adults. Old people, he added, are often thought to be senile, when actually depression is the prob- - not unique to adults although it is fairly common in that age group, middle-age- d Miss Sorenson said. Children, teenagers, and old people are al- so victims of the illness. It is especially difficult to treat older people Y'ho are depressed, she said. It is hard to give them hope. Arbogast stated that classic symptoms of depression in , s Arbogast said depression can be precipitated by medications given for other medical problems and by medical illnesses. Disorders of various hormone systems, such as the thyroid gland, can trigger a depression, noted Arbogast. Brain tumors as well can cause symptoms of depression, Arobgast stated., Patients like tne woman mentioned earlier, usually spend the first few days on the psychiatric unit withdrawn and alone. They may weep and refuse to participate in activities offered on the ward. Gradually as they improve, they begin to join in more with others and open up more in group therapy. Real progress is noted, said Miss Sorenson, as concern for others begins to show through in the depressed patient. Smiles and laughter, even on a limited basis, are other signals to the psychiatric staff that the patient is improving. ' A stay of about three weeks to a month is typical for a patient suffering from depression, Miss Sorenson continued. When the paient is released from the hospital, a psychiatrist or psychologist is usually recommended on an outpatient basis, until coping with life and problems can be handled more effectively, she said. A hospital setting is in order for some patients with depression, Arbogast commented. Especially if they exhibit suicidal tendencies. Certain drugs are available to treat depression, but their effect is not immediate. 1 Talking therepy is effective for some depressed people, Arbogast said. Some people have lifestyle problems, he explained. These patients often benefit from talking therapy aimed at helping them learn new ways of thinking about the world and new ways of dealing with people, he said. Holiday Assistance Offered Needy by Davis Agency Applications for Christmas assistance through the Sponsors' for Santa program in Davis County will be accepted starting today until Dec. 16 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Room 223 of the county courthouse in Farming-toaccording to Roselyn Dep, chart of the Department of Human Services. The program is set up to assist families that have small children. Last year the program helped over 330 families have a nicer Christmas. Basically,' what we try to do those in need with people nd organizations that want to help the less fortunate. De low-inco- istch chart explained. Although more than 100 sponsors participated in the program last year, many sponsoring two or more families, the department expects even more to come forward this year. Those wishing to sponsor a family may phone the department at Sponsors are . needed right up to Dec. 23, but the program operates more effectively if they also apply early, Dechart said. Many of .the schools in the 451-335county sponsor families as do other community organizations. ondary school students have Working as a group often generates enougfh enthusiasm that been particularly effective, she several families are served. Sec-- said., 451-335- 5. 5 h, Last year, students at Central Davis Junior High contributed over $450 worth of food and clothing. Students at Bountiful High School provided Christmas for four families, a total of 26 individuals. While people are encouraged to sponsor families "on a basis, cash donations, food and gifts are also accepted. These are distributed by the department to families that are not assigned to a sponsor since there are always more families in need than sponsors to care for them. Volunteers are also needed to sort and display donated items. Although donation of new item one-to-o- ne is preferred, groups or individuals that wish to repair and refurbish used toys and clothing may offer them in a useable condi- apply. In some cases, friends may wish to apply for the needy family if they know the need is genuine but the family would be embarrassed to ask for aid them. , , tion. Those needing assistance are selves. However, this friend will not always apparent, according be asked1 to secure approval from the needy family, explained to Ms. Dechart. Sometimes a father has been out ttf work for Ms. Dechart. some the family - While Sponsors for Santa is, lives in a nice house and drives the official Christmas assistance a nice car, they may be behind program for needy people in Daon payments and struggling just vis County, some residents may to keep food on the table. wish to help families they are alChristmas gifts may seem beready aware of. Acting as a clearinghouse, the Sponsors program yond reach. Many of these people hesitate can help avoid duplication if the to ask for help but are encourfamily is already assigned to anaged bv friends or relatives tn other sponsor. time.-Whil- e |