Ruth London, 74, was in the hospital
with severe pneumonia. She was delirious and hallucinated that she was in jail.
With the permission of a doctor on the unit, her husband brought the family Maltese,
Delilah, to see if the pet could calm his wife down.
The hospital staff didn’t let Mr.
London in at first, but eventually did after a call to the doctor. In the
hospital room, the dog ran to Mrs. London’s side and nuzzled her hand. From
that point on, she seemed to take a turn for the better.
It was a one-time deal at this
particular hospital, and the “no pets” policy is in force at most hospitals
across the country. But a few medical institutions have taken a different
approach and opened their doors to patients’ own dogs and cats, letting them
visit along with spouses, children and friends. For example, The University of
Maryland Medical Center, Virginia Commonwealth University Hospital and several
other hospitals now let family pets visit their owners, as long as certain
requirements are met. A hospital in Long Island even allows pets to stay with
patients around the clock.
Policies vary at the institutions that
allow visits by patients’ pets, but many share some of the same requirements:
·
A doctor’s order
allowing the family pet to visit;
·
An attestation from a
veterinarian that the animal is healthy and up to date on all its shots;
·
Grooming within a day
or so of a visit;
·
Dogs must be on a
leash when they walk through hospital corridors and cats must be taken in and
out of the institution in a carrier.
In the hospitals that allow pets, if an
animal seems agitated or distressed when it comes into the hospital, staff
members who meet the family and escort them to the patient’s room have the
right to turn it away. If the patient shares a room with someone, that person
must agree before a pet may visit. If someone has an open wound or an active
infection, a visit from pets is discouraged.
Research on the value of personal pets
visiting patients has found a relaxation response and reduction in blood
pressure and levels of cortisol, a stress-related hormone, according to Dr.
Sandra Barker, director of the center and a professor of psychiatry at the
University of Maryland.
What
will happen to your pets if something happens to you?
Unlike a Will, which has to wind through the probate process, a Pet Trust
can be created along with your living trust and should be
designed to take effect immediately upon your death so that your beloved
companion does not have to linger in a shelter while the courts cut through
paperwork. To get started, you should meet with a Certified Elder Law Attorney,
such as Evan H. Farr, CELA. After
finding out more information, you can decide if a pet trust makes sense for you
and your family. Then, you can work with TheFairfax Elder Law Firm of Evan H. Farr, P.C. to include all
of your pet’s needs and your wishes for your pet, and name a caretaker and a
trustee for when the inevitable happens. Read our recent blogpost about Pet Trusts.
If you haven’t done so already, please call 703-691-1888 to
make an appointment for a no-cost consultation to plan for yourself and your
loved ones, including your precious pet(s).
Evan H. Farr on Google +
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