Pets bring comfort to hospice patients

Bella and her owner Kathy Graham are members of the Hospice of Marion County Furry Friends and Pet Visitors program. [Photo by Andy Fillmore]

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Posted September 21, 2023 | By Andy Fillmore, andy@ocalagazette.com

Bella gets star treatment when she visits Hospice of Marion County’s (HMC) Grace Davis Hall House in southeast Ocala. Bella, a 2-year-old purebred poodle, is one of nine dogs and two parrots, owned by six volunteers, who visit patients at HMC facilities as part of the Furry Friends Pet Visitors program. In two years, Bella has made almost 200 visits.

“She’s a celebrity,” said volunteer Mary Lou Todd, a greeter at the recently opened patient facility on HMC’s Helen “Mimi” Walker Campus at 2893 S.E.62nd St., Ocala.

Beverly Lafferty said the volunteers and their pets, or “ambassadors,” go to assisted living facilities and nursing homes to visit HMC patients as well as other residents at private facilities.

HMC serves more than 3,000 patients annually at locations including the Grace Davis Hall House, E.W. & Lucille Cates House in Ocala, the Ted & Diane Brandley House in Summerfield and at individual patient locations, according to Brynett Gamba, director of communications.

Bella recently came to the Grace Davis Hall House and visited a patient who has been at the facility for seven weeks. The patient indicated he had owned three dogs and that Bella’s visit had brightened his day. Todd said that’s typical of what she sees when Bella stops by.

“The patients light up when Bella visits them. It changes their mood; they love it, and you can see it. They smile,” Todd said, adding that she has seen “non-verbal” patients speak during a dog visit.

Bella is owned by Kathy Graham, who makes regular visits to local care facilities with Bella and her sister, Ruby, a brown poodle. The two dogs are a “therapy, trick and event” team who visit multiple facilities in Ocala and Leesburg.

“Bella does tricks and can go into a praying position with her head bowed,” Graham said.

Bella can stand and put her paws on tall beds so patients who cannot reach down can pet her.

The other volunteers and their canine visitors include Boo, owned by Jo Ellen Schrode; Obie, who “melts” patients’ hearts and gives the families a brief respite, according to owner Linda Little; and Nanette Mikes, who brings her dogs Cookie and Jackie. Joe Commorato, the owner of Vinnie, a green parrot, and Echo a red parrot, also makes patient visits.

Other HMC patient focused volunteer programs include end of life doulas who can assist with issues such as memorial and funeral planning; the Merry Music Makers for karaoke, Christmas music and more; and veteran volunteers for veteran recognition ceremonies, birthdays and vet-to-vet visits.

Additional areas where volunteers lend a hand are with patient support, in thrift stores, as couriers for mail delivery between various buildings and facilities, doing office and administrative work, and serving as hospice house greeters, Gamba shared.

Lafferty said HMC has 524 volunteers, including the doulas who “provide end of life education and support.”

“Doulas provide comfort, companionship and guidance to those nearing death or wishing to prepare for end of life. They do not replace clinical care, they work to enhance care,” she wrote.

Lafferty said all of the volunteers make a contribution.

“Volunteers bring sunshine and moments that are not focused on the dying process. They listen, share stories and offer their time and presence,” she noted.

To learn more, visit hospiceofmarion.com or contact the Volunteer Department at (352) 873-7441 or volunteer@hospiceofmarion.com