Birds medicinal value

[TheChemist]

Just thought i would share a story from one of my patients i recently helped get into finches. He has an elderley mother with Dementia/Alzheimers, who basically spent the day on the couch watching tele or just dozing. She was semi interactive but alot of work for him. I suggested getting a couple of birds for her. He agreed and i gave him a small hanging cage with three Zebra finches in it. He immediately noticed an improvement, she named the birds straight away (although he coudln't tell the difference between them) and looked forward each morning to checking up on the birds. He was so impressed that he purchased a large aviary and got a canary, some more zebras and even progressed to some Gouldians. They now all excitedly watch the daily life of the birds and have even had some babies (zebras). He states that there has been a definite inprovement in his mums mood and attentiveness.

Anyway hope everyones birds are staying dry and no one got coaught up in the Tornado the other day.

[spanna]

I was talking about this with my partner just the other night. It's amazing just how much people with illnesses or disabilities respond to animal companionship. It's just as amazing that some/many animals know that these people are vulnerable, and will become very gentle and caring. My grandfather had a stroke almost 2 decades ago and lost most use of his left side, so usually gets around in a shoprider (he can walk, just very slowly). A couple of years ago, he was visiting us and we went out to see the horses. My sisters horse at the time was the most gentle one we had, so we tentatively took him up to my granddad sitting on his shoprider. The horse spent the next 30 minutes with his head nuzzled on his lap, with my granddad stroking his head and neck. The horse didn't move a muscle the whole time, even though he'd been pulled away from his dinner! It was fantastic, and my granddad really took something from the experience; his whole demeanour changed for the remainder of the day.

[GregH]

Well I knew companion animals like cats and dogs helped and I'm glad finches can be added to the list. I think just giving some form of responsibility to anyone fires up the neurones. Unfortunately I think only African witch doctors are the only ones to regularly use birds as part of their pharmacopeia.

[Mortisha]

Been thinking about this recently too.

Every spring, when we have a stack of baby lambs and goats, we have a luncheon at the farm for the old folk’s home in town. They go nuts for it, some of the poor old things get very emotional at just being allowed to pat a lamb or the farm dogs or go and collect the eggs.

That connection with the natural world has been lost and they feel it.

So many of the old nursing homes could be so much better if they had little vege gardens, and a couple of chooks.
I think a big glassed sided aviary adjoining a sunroom where they could sit inside but still be involved in watching the daily activities of a group of colourful birds would be hugely appreciated by a lot (and their visitors.)

Worries me too - think I'd go nuts if i was ever deprived of having animals near me.

[spanna]

That just reminded me Mortisha...
When I was younger (probably 12 or so years ago now) I was hand rearing a baby gouldian. My mum wanted to go in to visit her 95 year old grandfather (my great grandfather) in his nursing home, so naturally we had to take the bird with us. He was sharing a room with a generally quiet and almost depressed man, also in the advanced stages of life. As soon as me and my younger sister had this bird flying between us though, both of them were laughing and happily recollecting stories of birds they had when they were young. They did have a resident cat at this nursing home though, an interesting story in itself.
This cat had a sixth sense for when the elderly were going to pass. It would go and sit with them and keep them company, refusing to leave to eat or drink until they passed away. Very very sad, but an amazing animal. I think something very special and comforting for those in the final hours of life too.

[flap]

Yes animals can be very therapeutic. A lot of nursing homes will at times have visiting animals for that very reason. Amazing story about the cat, you do hear about that with their owners, I guess that cat saw everyone as its owner!

[finchbreeder]

For those who have seen or not seen but just heard of "Red Dog" This dog turned up at my brother-in-laws place when he was a sick kid in the north west 30ish years ago, and sat with him till he was well. Read the original book "Red Dog" by Nancy Gilespie.
She is my brother-in-laws mum.
LML

[TheChemist]

Sounds like everyone has had similar experiences, i do the medication for a number of Nursing homes, may be worth a phone call although i think the set back with these poor carers is just work overload, But who knows maybe a small donated cage with a couple of birds wouldn't go astray.
Interesting hearing other peoples thoughts and encounters with this a well, thanks.

[Myzomela]

You would just need to be aware of certain health issues.

If the birds are to be housed indoors in the patients' homes then the potential risk of zoonotic diseases such as chlamydiosis (psittacosis/ornithosis) and of allergy-based diseases related to feather dust and dander needs to be considered, especially since may of the elderly have impaired immune systems.

Not meaning to be a kill-joy but the OH & S officionados may have a field day with this ( because they've got nothing better to do!!)

I only mention this because of previous involvement in these things. In my case the birds were housed in an outdoor aviary to minimise these risks and were serviced by employess of the retirement village.

[Mortisha]

You would just need to be aware of certain health issues

.

too true - that is one reason I thought a glass barrier between the birds and the residents would be handy.