LONG-TERM CARE NEWS
By Steve Crawford, CEO, McCormick Care Group

Remember visiting a farm or zoo as a child? Think of the sounds, smells, sights and feel of the experience – being fascinated at watching the animals and perhaps being lucky enough to get a nickel from your mom or dad to buy  some pellets from the modified bubble gum machine to feed your furry friends.

Whether you grew up on a farm or just enjoyed seeing the animals at your local petting zoo, most of us have some deep-rooted memories of that experience. Julie Casey, a social worker and animal-assisted therapy specialist, tapped into that memory by researching the fundamental reactions to animals in people with dementia in the hopes of better managing agitated behaviours.