Northwest Community Hospital Expanding Animal-Assisted Therapy

Northwest Community Hospital plans to expand animal-assisted therapy.

Northwest Community Hospital is recruiting additional dogs and volunteer owners to expand is animal-assisted therapy program. The Arlington Heights hospital started the program in 2007. A press release from the hospital states that animal-assisted therapy is a proven method of improving a patient’s physical health by providing a higher level of emotional comfort while serving as a diversion from illness. The program has grown to 60 dog and handler teams that make hospital-wide visits. A loving dog can assist in reducing a patient’s stress, pain, anxiety and loneliness. Interaction between patients and pets can raise a person’s spirits and improve their physical well-being by lowering blood pressure and accelerating recovery times, the …

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