The Avoyelles Parish’s 4-H Service-learning project, PETS & PEOPLE, in conjunction with the Hessmer Nursing Home, connected children, pets and the elderly.  The PETS & PEOPLE project was to stimulate the elderly population through visits with the 4-H'ers and their pet.

The youth/pet team became a medium to bring out the feelings and emotions of the nursing home occupants pertaining to communication, caring, responsibility and citizenship initiatives. In the conversations between youth and elderly people, the youth increased their presentation skills, self-esteem and ability to communicate with an adult in an organized manner. The environment was therapeutic to both the adults and the youth. The pet simply becomes a catalyst to allow this engagement between youth and adults to take place.

Many of the occupants at the local nursing homes are known to have very few visitors from family and friends. Research of nursing home facilities and its occupants has found a positive relationship between pets, youth and occupants. This triangle becomes increasingly rigid when this process involving the three groups mentioned above is repeated over a period of time. All groups involved become more aware and eager to participate in this program as the time goes because of the positive reinforcements served by this program.

Careful planning, paying attention to detail and program improvements were all essentials to this process. The elderly population loved the visits so much from the 4-H program that they requested more. The nursing home heard the request and responded by making a Pet Day every month. So, children, families and even the staff at the nursing home are now welcome to bring pets to the nursing home.

The impact will continue because of efforts on the nursing home residents. The youth will continue to visit and bring their pets to the nursing home. through this experience, the 4-H members learned respect, responsibility and citizenship. A total of 40 hours and 100 people were served as of 2/25/2009.

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