Beauregard, Director of Therapy
Beauregard, Director of Therapy, is a Jack Russell Terrier who was born on March 2, 2009, and was adopted by the McHale family at 10 weeks old. Beauregard is loyal, affectionate, attentive, and social and loves more than anything to meet new people. He enjoys having his ears scratched, long walks on the beach, and making people smile. Those are just a few of the reasons why he was promoted to Director of Therapy at Saint Michael’s Home Care in 2013. Whenever Beau is at work visiting seniors, he is happiest. Beauregard delivers a feeling of joy and happiness to those he meets through his unconditional and undeniable love of humans. Beau’s gentle demeanor and extraordinary manners make him the perfect dog for providing love and affection for people at any stage of life.
How to Get a Visit from Beauregard
Contact Saint Michael’s Home Care office and schedule a time that you would like Beauregard to visit. Call (904) 834-2474 to schedule.
What Is a Pet Therapy Dog?
A pet therapy dog is trained to provide friendship, comfort, and companionship for people through visits in homes, schools, hospitals, and other settings. Pet therapy allows people to receive all the love, joy, and affection an animal brings without dealing with the everyday care needs of a pet. For years, animal-assisted therapy has been used to enhance people’s lives and positively impact their social, emotional, and cognitive health. Not only do pets create a fun and relaxing environment, but also studies have shown the pet owners enjoy many therapeutic effects, including stress relief. Pet owners may even see improvements in their physical health. Pet therapy may provide the following benefits for you:
Emotional Benefits
- Reduced loneliness, anxiety, and depression
- Increased awareness and attention spans
- Social stimulation and encouragement to communicate
- Increased quantity and quality of interactions among dementia patients
- Enhanced social interactions with more smiles and laughter in the presence of an animal
Physical Benefits
- Reduced blood pressure
- The motivation for physical therapy following a surgery or accident
- Mental stimulation for Alzheimer’s patients
- Diminished physical pain
- Lower incidence of heart attacks
- Declines in prescription drug use and total cost of care was found in nursing homes that incorporated pet therapy