Arbor Hospice has welcomed Leon, a professionally trained Black Labrador, to its complementary therapies staff as a pet therapy dog. Leon joins Alpine, a 2-year-old Golden Retriever, to double the size of the nonprofit’s canine force.
Leon earned his guide dog certification from Leader Dogs for the Blind in Rochester, Mich.
In his new role, Leon will visit patients and their families offering comfort and companionship to those served through Arbor Hospice’s Plymouth and Woodhaven offices. Leon is trained to deliver just the right amount of interaction, reacting to cues from patients and their families before moving closer to rest his head on their laps or sitting obediently by while they pet his fur.
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Studies have shown the great health benefits trained animals offer in patient care, including decreases in pain, blood pressure and some levels of medications as well as reduced anxiety, loneliness and depression.
“Since the demand for our pet therapy services is growing, we are pleased to have Leon join our Golden Retriever, Alpine, out visiting patients wherever they call home,” said Gloria D. Brooks, president and CEO of Arbor Hospice. “With our pet therapy team doubled in size, we look forward to serving twice as many patients and families throughout our seven county service area as they seek comfort and pain relief.”
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Arbor Hospice offers a wide range of complementary therapies - music, massage and pet - designed to work alongside medical interventions to provide comfort to patients and control symptoms, wherever they call “home.”
Leon resides with his host family in Farmington Hills.
About Arbor Hospice, The Arbor Hospice Foundation and Arbor Palliative Care
Since 1984 Arbor Hospice, headquartered in Ann Arbor, MI, has been committed to providing quality, compassionate care for those experiencing life-limiting illnesses throughout southeast Michigan. Arbor Hospice is integrated into the community with the help of its experienced staff and caring volunteers through its certified hospice and palliative care services, inpatient hospice facility, grief support services and community education programs. For more information, visit www.arborhospice.org or call (888) 992-2273.
· The Arbor Hospice Foundation, which provides financial and philanthropic support to advance the mission of Arbor Hospice. Founded in 2002, The Arbor Hospice Foundation strives to meet the ongoing needs of patients and families served by Arbor Hospice through the generosity of individual donors, corporate partners and foundation support. To make a tax-deductible contribution or for more information visit www.arborhospice.org/foundation-donation/donate-today or call (734) 794-5338.
· Arbor Palliative Care, a consultative service of Arbor Hospice founded in 2012, is designed to provide comfort care to people who are not hospice eligible or who choose not to enroll in hospice. Physicians and nurse practitioners, who specialize in palliative or comfort care, work with patients’ physicians to assess and address pain and other distressing symptoms associated with advanced illness. Patients who are at least 18 years of age with uncontrolled symptoms are eligible for this in-home care. For more information, e-mail info@arborpalliativecare.org or call (734) 794-5678 or toll free (855) 249-5678.
Arbor Hospice and The Arbor Hospice Foundation are tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations annually serving more than 9,000 patients and families in Jackson, Lenawee, Livingston, Monroe, Oakland, Washtenaw and Wayne counties.
