In Spain, at Hospital of Figueres

In this Mobilityfrom our PROJECT ERASMUS+ #ImprovingEducationinAAS two participants from THEKIDSFELLOWS Research Group met with the Medical Doctors working in the CENTRE SOCIO-SANITARI BERNAT JAUME” ( Fundacion Salut Emporda) Dr. Pablo Munoz and their team, and showed them the Center's Programs and how dogs are used here to facilitate the recovery of institutionalized elderly people. Read their history:

"This mobility was an opportunity for me to travel (it was my first time out of the Country by High-velocity Train and plane!!). The project allowed me to expand my knowledge in an area that is so beautiful to me. In Portugal, we cannot see this!!!

We have observed how dog-assisted interventions can be incorporated into practice in Hospitals, to help elderly people. During the mornings we followed our hosts in the implementation of a Program Dog-Assisted Therapy (DAT). Dr Pablo explained to us the rigorous settings needed to control the risks of introducing dogs in highly controlled Sanitary Institutions. We visited the physiotherapy room and there we saw how the dog can be used to increase patient motivation, by strengthening the enthusiasm to leave the wheelchair. It was wonderful to see them wanting to put on their feet.

On the second day, Dr Pablo showed us the room and we worked together on the computer where they analyze every patient’s data and learned how they evaluate the impact of the Program on a patient’s Functionality (physical autonomy) and Quality of life, including sleep, anxiety, and depression.

Now we are working on a Good Practice Plan, hoping to increase Portuguese knowledge about how to do and the benefits of introducing dogs in Hospitals. We are excited to share ideas about which Functional Scales should be used to evaluate each parameter (if international or needing standardization), etc."

Francisco Meireles

“We have been challenged and developed significant ideas about how animals can be helping people!!"

"I definitely have improved my understanding about the use of animals in Animal-Assisted Therapy and the constraints to introduce dogs in Hospitals. I gain new perceptions about using dogs in therapy activities with the elderly. And I loved to see Miss Dolores grooming the dog, she was so happy”. Joana Pereira

During the last day of our mobility, we went to Roser Feliu Latorre place, the director from “Lladruc”, and we saw and learned some strategies of how she trains her dogs. We loved to travel through high-velocity trains during our trip."

Lladruc is a comprehensive dog education service in the Girona region that regularly carries out animal-assisted activities in schools, institutes, children's shelters, residences for the elderly and day centres.