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Therapy

Is Laughter the Best Medicine?

by Kay Paggi

Is Laughter the Best Medicine?“If you don’t learn how to laugh at troubles, you won’t have anything to laugh at when you grow old.” –Edward W. Howe Everyone loves to laugh. In fact, we love laughing so much that there are entire industries built around it. Slapstick movies, sitcoms and comedians are all designed to provoke laughter. It’s no secret: laughing simply feels good. But does laughter have any lasting effects on our health? In a word, yes. The value of humor in...Read the rest of this article »

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Rx: A Doggie Smooch a Day Keeps the Blues at Bay

by Ami Icanberry

Rx: A Doggie Smooch a Day Keeps the Blues at BayWith each wag of a dog’s tail, we’re learning more and more about the benefits of having animals around—therapeutic and otherwise. We’ve heard the buzz—animals can make a healthy difference in the lives of those who associate with them. In The Healing Touch of Animals, I introduced some of the benefits seniors reap when in the company of animals. Studies have found that simply having an animal present or visiting a long-term care facility can provide multiple health benefits...Read the rest of this article »

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Therapeutic Effects of Interacting with Animals

by Ami Icanberry

Therapeutic Effects of Interacting with AnimalsWhere humans and traditional medicine sometimes fail, animals often succeed in cutting through the physical and emotional barriers that isolate certain people in our society. This is especially true for residents of nursing homes and those with Alzheimer's and/or dementia. Studies have found that simply having an animal present or visiting a long-term care facility can provide multiple health benefits to residents. Some skilled nursing facility residents have shown increased communication, decreased anxiety, lower heart rates, and a decrease in...Read the rest of this article »

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