I've been a Registered Nurse for 10 years now, and I've enjoyed working with the elderly including Alzheimer's and dementia patients. When a patient suffering from dementia gets to hold or pet an animal, the transformation in their mood is heartwarming to say the least.
It is very challenging to find out how someone is feeling and what someone wants when they can't always understand and tell you things like they used to. Healthcare professionals try everything to figure out how to keep their patients happy, but if communication issues are present and comfort and love are needed, animals can do the trick with no words needed.
In fact, a patient I cared for fell absolutely IN LOVE with a lifelike cat one day. As the disease progressed, he was perpetually lost, growing more aggressive and unhappy by the week. Then Trixie came into his life, quickly followed by a basket for her on his walker and a collar, and he was from then on the happiest guy on the block! That, my friends, is how Shady Cat Social Club was born.
I created Shady Cat Social Club because I wanted to accomplish 4 things:
I hope some if not all of my "story" has connected with you and that you will choose to join me on my journey of making the world a little bit better one Shady Cat at a time!
Cheers,
Nikki
