In article
>
,
Cindy Fuller > wrote:

> In article >,
> brooklyn1 > wrote:
>
>
> > I have a difficult time believing that story... a nursing home is a
> > medical facility, they wouldn't permit pets... perhaps it was an
> > assisted care senior living community, some permit pets in one's own
> > unit. Many people are deathly afraid of animals, especially
> > exacerbated when folks are elderly, frail, ill. Nope, I don't
> > believe that tale... I've visited many nursing homes, none permitted
> > animals... many nursing homes don't permit minor children.
>
> Believe it, Sheldon. Many nursing homes and retirement facilities are
> going toward something called the Eden alternative. This includes
> plants, aquariums, pets, and (YES) children. The philosophy is that
> elders get psychosocial stimulation from a more diverse environment,
> which makes them happier and pays off in reduced medications. Obviously
> if a patient is in the very skilled nursing section (on oxygen, IV's,
> and the like), critters may be limited to fishbowls; however, for the
> most part the Edenization is facility-wide. Even hospitals will allow
> Delta Society-trained dogs in on occasion to visit patients.

My father lives in an Adult Home. My sister lives about a mile away.
She has six dogs, and sometimes she will bring ONE dog to the Adult
Home. The residents love it. My father likes to visit my sister and
interact with the dogs.

As far as Sheldon goes, if he behaves IRL anything like the way he
behaves here, I suspect that he has been banned from every nursing home
he has ever visited, so he can't be expected to keep up with the latest
trends. In particular, the statement that, "many nursing homes don't
permit minor children" rings pretty false. Many seniors (Sheldon
included) are very fond of their grandchildren, and would object
strenuously to having them excluded.

--
Dan Abel
Petaluma, California USA