Puppy lights up nursing home in South Dakota

• Experts say that pets bring many mental and physical benefits to seniors.
• This rang true for the residents at Good Samaritan Society in Scotland, South Dakota.
• Their lives were made better and brighter since they’ve met a tiny golden retriever named Gracie!

This pup is all these seniors ever need.

Seniors in nursing homes have been one of the most affected people by the global lockdowns — they were isolated and kept from the outside world for protection’s sake. Thankfully, there’s a way to lift their spirits up, and it only takes one cheerful pet.

So, the Good Samaritan Society in Scotland, South Dakota enlisted the help of a tiny golden retriever named Gracie.

Gracie lives with Pam Stewart, the social services manager for the nursing home. This made Gracie’s visits with Pam to work every day a perfect idea. And her job? Just be her own sweet and adorable self — the perfect formula to bring a ray of sunshine to the residents of the home care facility.

Gracie isn’t the first dog in the care home. The residents have had a resident pup, Hope, who sadly passed away in November and made the facility less cheery, until Gracie’s arrival.

Now, the sweet pup visits with about 30 residents each day with staff guidance, and makes each day a memorable one for the residents who have been missing visiting friends and family.

“We’ve seen a lot of changes since she’s come,” Pam told GMA. “We’ve seen a lot of smiles, cuddles. It’s giving them a lot to talk about versus what they’ve seen in the world.”

This shows to prove what experts are claiming: that pets like Gracie herself can give many health benefits to seniors, like increasing their mental and physical activity.

Not only will these residents benefit from Gracie’s presence, but they are also given the privilege to be a huge part of the sweet puppy’s life. They get to watch her grow up to a much finer pup!

Source: Inspire More