Diane McGuire and Buddy the miniature horse visit Mardel Manakaja at Caring House.
SACATON — Whispers filled the hallways of Caring House before Buddy even set hoof in the door. “He’s here!”
Buddy, a miniature horse, ambled onto the skilled nursing facility’s patio. At 31 inches tall and 300 pounds, he drew a crowd – not only of patients and staff, but also extended families spanning four generations. All told, Buddy and his handler, Diane McGuire, visited 75 to 100 people that November day. Buddy chomped on miniature carrots; admirers combed his beautiful mane and reflected on horses they had known during their lives.
“I love seeing patients’ faces light up when they see us arrive,” McGuire said. “Native Americans in particular have a close affinity for the animal world and I think they especially enjoy the opportunity to engage in these encounters.”
Pet therapy is offered at Caring House by Hospice of the Valley, a not-for-profit organization that cares for patients who are very sick by providing pain relief, medication management, social, emotional and spiritual support. “
Our philosophy is to walk along side the patient and family,” said Rosanne King, RN, who leads the hospice team serving Caring House. “We want them to be in charge of what happens and support their needs.”
Caring House was founded on the Gila River Indian Community several decades ago. It was based in Laveen until April 2009, when a state-of-the-art 100- bed skilled nursing facility opened in Sacaton, the governmental center of the community. Hospice of the Valley has served Caring House at both locations, going back at least 15 years. The hospice team consists of a doctor, nurse, social worker, nurse’s aide, volunteer and chaplain, if requested. They care for patients nearing their next life’s journey who need more support – extra nurse visits, more personal care and even a constant bedside presence, if requested. Comfort is the goal.
Scotch the border collie visits Dalton Evans at Caring House.
“Our team is committed to being there – with the patient and sometimes a roomful of 20 or 40 people of family and friends,” said Wendi Sebourn, social worker. “What we’ve heard time and time again that is appreciated is ‘you are here and you stay here.’” Mark Klein, administrator of Caring House, said
Hospice of the Valley educates people about the dying process. “It helps people cope because they know what is coming. Hospice people know the process and have a compassionate way of expressing things. They also are respectful of cultural values and belief systems.” Hospice of the Valley offers the extras like pet therapy that “lift the morale not only of the residents that receive services from Hospice of the Valley but also of other residents and staff at the facility.” McGuire brings Buddy the horse and Scotch the border collie to Caring House. Both animals were rescued – Scotch was abandoned in the desert and Buddy used to compete in driving competitions but became neglected when he was older. McGuire, who is hearing impaired, took them in and went through the training to have them certified as therapy animals to bring comfort to humans.
“Pets give people a chance to reconnect with happy memories of their lives and give people a positive focus to interact with both the animal and the handler,” she said. A hospice patient who responded to Buddy had been a horseman and rancher; his room was decorated with horseshoes, spurs and other memorabilia. Another hospice patient in his 40s was delighted when Scotch climbed into bed. “It made this man feel so happy because that dog made his room feel like home to him,” said Christine Ross, a Hospice of the Valley nurse at Caring House. Other extras include music therapy and massage. In the future, Hospice of the Valley plans to train volunteers who live in the Gila River community and to offer grief support groups, King said. Hospice care also is available to people in their homes. The cost of care is covered by Medicare and most insurance companies. Anyone can call to find out if hospice care is right for them: 602-530-6900.
View the web site: www.hov.org
Beverly Medlyn is director of communications for Hospice of the Valley.
The power of the world
always works in circles.
The sky is round,
and I have heard
the earth is round
like a ball,
and so are all the stars.
The wind,
in its greatest power, whirls.
Birds make their nests
in circles,
for theirs is the same religion as ours.
The sun
comes forth and goes down
in a circle
The moon does the same.
And both always come back
to where they were.
The life of man is a circle
from childhood to childhood.
And so it is in everything
where power moves.
—Black Elk
Oglala Lakota Sioux
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