Czech hospital uses "horse power" to boost morale
Four-legged therapists
visit elderly patients in Prague
The Merciful Sisters of St Charles Borromeo hospital
harnessed the benefits of hippotherapy
when visits to elderly patients were restricted
(SOUNDBITE) (Czech) FUNDRAISING MANAGER OF HOSPITAL, DAGMAR KUNCOVA, SAYING:
"The hospital environment doesn't have a positive influence on the patients, they are anxious, worried, and lonely. Animals help with stress relief and also help the patients to communicate again. Animals fill the patients with life."
The visits proved to be such a hit
they continued after restrictions were eased
even though the hospital must pay
for the visits themselves
(SOUNDBITE) (Czech) 85-YEAR-OLD PATIENT, NATALIE SLABA, SAYING:
"The horses are beautiful. If I knew how to ride a horse, I would saddle it and ride on it. However, I wouldn't manage that today. I like the horses."
