About PetNet
The Elder Services Center, led by Dr. Joyce Ferrario,
has developed a new program for gerontological care,
involving Animal Assisted Therapuetic Visits. The Casella
Alzheimer's Education Center, with the generously endorsed
gift from the Helen Thomas Howland Foundation, has been
able to create the BU PetNet.
This program allows senior citizens and people with
special needs to spend valuable time with a pet, either
in their own home, nursing home or a facility for people
with special needs, who may otherwise never have the
opportunity to share that loving bond with a pet. The
sense of responsibility and care that is developed in
the patient while being with a pet alleviates their
loneliness and/or lack of motivation.
Communicating with pets through touch and nurturing
provides a sense of relaxation and well-being for the
patient, who may otherwise prefer isolation amongst
people.
Through PetNet, you can also become a part of this
community based program either as a senior citizen or
person with special needs who wants a pet to visit on
a regular basis, as a family member of someone who would
like to have a pet visit, or as an owner of a pet who
would like to volunteer their pet to be trained for
this community service program.
This program is completely non-profit, purely being
done as a community service in the Southern Tier region.
Contact
If you are interested in having a pet come visit you,
or volunteer your pet for training, e-mail Dr.
Joyce Ferrario at jferrari@binghamton.edu.
Directors of Facilities: If you would
like to help us organize group visits to your facility,
please e-mail the Elder
Services Center.
If you would like more information on this program,
e-mail the Elder
Services Center.
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