Therapy horses console front-line healthcare workers
Front-line healthcare workers have been facing burnout and mental health challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially due to the recent delta surge.
As a way to uplift workers’ spirits, miniature therapy horses from Angels for Minis Horse Rescue recently visited about 150 front-line workers and their families outside of John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek, California.
Dana Maiorana and Christina Amate, both criticalcare nurses at John Muir’s neuro trauma intensive-care unit, have been volunteering with Angels for Minis for a few years and arranged the first visit to support their colleagues, according to Ben Drew, spokesperson for John Muir Health.
“We (Dana and Chris) have seen how beneficial being around the minis has been for our mental health during the pandemic, and we have seen the benefits of animal therapy to employees in the past, and thought it would be great if we could bring these truly special animals to help our co-workers,” Maiorana said in an email.
All 2,800 employees and their families at the medical center were invited to the outdoor event earlier this month. However, only about 150 workers and their families attended. Staff and families were able to pet, hug and take selfies with the miniature horses.
There was one certified therapy horse named Scout who was allowed by the “administration and infectiousdisease (staff ) to enter the hospital and spend time with critical-care staff in one of the break rooms,” Maiorana said.
“The ongoing pandemic has been very challenging and exhausting for our providers and staff,” Drew said. “The visit helped to raise spirits in the middle of Surge 4.0 and bring some smiles and joy at a difficult time.” Although there are currently three nurses volunteering with Angels for Minis, after the visit more are interested, Drew said.
Maiorana added that she hopes to have more events like this one in the future. “We would love to see more mini horse therapy events! It was such an amazing day that was beneficial to both the healthcare workers and the minis. They enjoy the human contact as much as we enjoy them!”