This week, physiotherapist Adam Vallely-Farrell explains what pet therapy is and how it is used in the Intensive Care Unit and Children’s Ward at Dunedin Hospital. He explains that: “Having an animal on board, naturally whenever you see an animal you generally just feel happy, so it can improve your mood. Particularly patients that are in hospital, they are naturally low. So, giving them a bit of a boost in their mood releases all these feel-good hormones. From a physical point of view, it can encourage them to reach out, using their limbs, getting them moving.”
Listen to the episode here to find out more about pet therapy at Dunedin Hospital on www.southernhealth.nz/podcasts
You can also listen to past episodes!
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