by Linda C. Turman

Created on: December 09, 2008

Nursing homes are hard enough when having to be in one. When one has to reside in one for the rest of their years, there is a lot of things being missed. Your loved one is missing family and especially any life long pet that they have owned. A nursing home or rehabilitation facilities, takes some getting used too. There are rules and maybe some sort of therapy, dieteating times, etc. It's all new. A new environment to live in. But, having a nursing home/rehabilitation to reside in doesn't have to turn ones life completely around. Being able to bring the pet to these facilities makes all the difference in the world. It makes the rules and times worth waiting for. One looks forward to seeing their pet.

My father was in a nursing home in his last few years of life. He had Alzheimers. It was hard for him and our family. Not having him at home made our lives feel empty. Of course in his condition, he was confused most of the time. It's wasn't easy for the family when we had realized he didn't recognize us anymore. I did believe that he missed something, but was it us? One never know s for sure though. One year ago I was placed in rehabilitation for eight months. It was the longest eight months of my life. I had an amputation and Besides the feelings I had about that, I felt a lone and a bit scared. I had gotten a four month old kitten just before going in. I didn't know I was going to the hospital and right from there, or to rehabilitation so fast, or I would have waited to get a new pet. Well, I missed him terribly and wondered how much he had grown. Then I had learned that This home would allow pets in to visit the patients. I had a neighbor taking care of him at my home. I saw on TV., these pet strollers by:petpaws.com I had purchased one and when it arrived to my home, my neighbor put it together. One night going to the dinning-room, I saw him being pushed up the hall. I was just so excited to see my pet. But, I had realized how much he had grown. I missed all the fun as sharing my love for him while a kitten! Even still, he was so beautiful and loving. Of course one misses their pets and I mean a lot! They are just like missing family. The same feeling is there. When I finally went home, he remembered me. I wasn't sure he would. We are best of buddies' still today.

There are volunteers that bring sheltered pets to these facilities. The are shared with different patients. The get to hold them and pet them. It's very calming, and comforting and especially for the patients that don't have their own pet to have brought in. Either way, it's one chance to share their love to an animal that needs to be loved back!

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