When Bonnie Sue (a.k.a. “Bon-Bon”) became a member of The Lantern at Morning Pointe Alzheimer’s Center of Excellence, Chattanooga family, the residents and staff liked one thing about her; she didn’t bark.
Until one day, the corgi-beagle mix would make her mark in the memory care community living room. There, Bon-Bon encountered resident Darby Smart and noticed something strange about the woman. She then began to bark – loudly and nonstop.
Hearing Bon-Bon’s unusual outcry, a nurse came to attention. The nurse approached the scene to find Ms. Smart sitting still – only her eye twitched and she was completely silent. It appeared Bon-Bon had sensed something was wrong with the resident – what she specifically sensed remains a mystery.
Later, a visit from the on-site physician revealed Ms. Smart had suffered a transient ischemic attack (TIA). Though the staff later learned the resident had a history of TIA events, Bon-Bon had witnessed the resident’s first episode at the memory care community.
Ms. Smart also had aphasia – a communication disorder that impairs speech and language abilities. This would give even greater significance to Bon-Bon’s discovery, as the resident would have been unable to communicate that she was in trouble.
But the corgi-beagle’s attention to detail didn’t stop there. Later that day, another resident required assistance in a separate event. Bon-Bon hurried to the person, keeping close to him until nurses resolved the resident’s need.
“She was feeling her Wheaties that day,” said Alisha Landes, executive director of The Lantern at Chattanooga.
She and the staff say Bon-Bon has been a blessing to the community, offering the compassion only a canine can give.
It is a trend many medical and nonmedical communities would adopt; pets in the environment are said to contribute much more than cuddles.
According to the Mayo Clinic, pets (in animal-assisted therapy programs) can help people manage a variety of health conditions, including cardiovascular illnesses and mental health disorders.
But when there is a call for comfort, pet therapy (through animal-assisted activities) has been shown to help enhance mood and improve quality of life – especially in the senior care environment.
Pets have frequently made major news headlines for both their benefits to people and their heroic acts, ranging from rescuing an owner to identifying emergencies and illnesses as Bon-Bon did.
“She’s our angel,” Ms. Landes said. “She’s been a great companion and it was a great decision that we got her.”
Morning Pointe communities have witnessed the beneficial interactions between animals and residents. Furry and four-legged guests are invited on a regular basis as a part of the pet therapy program, and some of the assisted living and memory care campuses add a pet as a permanent part of the community.
Only being a part of The Lantern family for a couple of months, it appears Bon-Bon has earned more than her stay. But at the end of the day, the corgi-beagle asks for no awards, major headlines or trophies – only a tummy rub and treats will do.