Southland Hospital’s Inpatient Mental Health Unit (IMHU) has been receiving regular visits from a four-legged visitor!
Over the past year tāngata whaiora (a person seeking health) and staff in the IMHU have been treated to visits from therapy dog Aurora.
The visits are organised by Occupational Therapist Kate MacLennan who says there are real benefits to them.
“Aurora is a lovely settled mild-mannered dog and a real fluff ball! She’s brought along to the ward by father and daughter owners John and Sinead, and everyone loves meeting her.
“Pet therapy is well known to reduce stress and give comfort. Tāngata whaiora love to have pats and cuddles with Aurora, and a chat with her owners. It’s a really relaxing and calming sensory experience for everyone, and it’s especially nice for tāngata whaiora who are missing their pets at home,” says Kate.
Aurora's father and daughter owners John and Sinead Slow.
Therapy dog Aurora.
Owners Sinead and John Slow say it’s a privilege to take Aurora to the ward for visits. “She loves it and as soon as she knows she’s going she gets super excited but calms down when she arrives!”
Feedback about Aurora has been great. Aurora loves her visits, and she always tries to pop to the nurses’ station for a visit too!
