It's well-established that animals provide a profound calming influence on people. Drawing on this, occupational therapist Julie Marchand integrated her specially trained dog, Frisbee, into her practice. Adopted from the SPA and prepared specifically to support seniors, Frisbee serves as her unique therapy partner. Julie even completed specialized training in animal-mediated interventions to bring this innovative approach to life.
At the EHPAD de Craon nursing home, Julie brings Frisbee to work once a week. For 30 minutes, he joins residents in targeted exercises for memory, attention, and motor skills. "For memory work, for instance, we guide residents to stroke the left ear three times, the right paw three times, then the back of the neck three times," Julie explains to HautAnjou. The bond with Frisbee is central to the therapy's success. "Some wheelchair-bound residents who rarely moved on their own reached out eagerly upon seeing him—the caregivers were astonished," she shares.
With such promising outcomes, Julie Marchand is expanding her program to include horses.
