AFT: Safety Guidelines

Linda Hume, LPN
Northeast Rehabilitation Hospital

All dogs used in an A.F.T. program should be trained to at least a novice level in obedience, and be reliable with these commands under distracting conditions. Besides being obedience trained, the dog must also be steady under what could be stressful situations. Examples of these are; loud sudden noises, sudden gestures, loud yelling, hugs, ear, tail pulling, rolling carts, hospital equipment, etc. A dog who panics at such things would prove to be a liability- could bite, run and knock someone over, or frighten patients among other things! Your dog should be on lead while in a facility, unless participating in a specific exercise in a therapy session, and dependable off lead while doing this. it is not necessary for the dog to do precision heeling, however he should walk closely at your side, as hospital corridors can be very busy and crowded. Be especially careful when rounding a corner, stay to the right and be aware of wheelchairs, canes, walkers, etc.

Never allow your dog to jump on people, even if the person encourages it. Politely explain that the dogs are not allowed to do this, and invite them to pat your dog while he sits quietly. You could have the dog "shake hands" to foster further interaction. Be attentive to your dog's position and space-watch his tail and paws around wheelchairs, etc. Also don't permit your dog to paw at a patient, as some breeds, for example Golden Retrievers tend to put their paws on people to get attention. Remember that many older people have fragile skin which tears easily.

Even if you are visiting a facility that has an elderly population. many times you will encounter children. They may be visiting the residents, or be related to staff members. As we all know, unfortunately not all children are well behaved in public so it is your responsibility to monitor their interaction between the child and dog. This can also be an opportunity to teach the child how to approach a dog, etc. For this reason, your dog must also be well behaved with children.

There may be other dogs or animals in the facility while you are visiting. For this reason, your dog must not be aggressive toward other animals. Many long term care facilities have resident birds, cat or even a dog.

If a resident asks you to assist him in any way such as, get him a drink, a snack, help him to the bathroom, help him out of bed, etc., explain that you aren't allowed to do this but will get a staff member to assist. Many patients may be on special diets, unable to tolerate liquids, unsafe up and about without help, etc. Never move a patient's walker, cane, or other assistive device away from their reach to allow the dog to get closer, and not return it to where it was. Be sure that their call light is still in place when you leave, as it may get knocked aside during the visit. If you encounter a situation or behavior issue that you are not trained to handle, notify the nearest staff member, who can deal with it.

If a bite or scratch does occur, it must be reported immediately to the nursing staff, who will have to document the incident, and will tell you what procedures must be followed as per facility policy.