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Maison St-Raphaël’s team welcomed a very special new member: Bikini, a service dog in palliative care! At just under two years old, Bikini is a rust-coloured Labernese who received her general training at Mira. Chosen for her calm, gentle temperament by Mira Foundation instructors, the young dog has been paired with Dr. Krista Lawlor, Medical Director at Maison St-Raphaël, who will be her handler. Bikini will be on site almost every weekday to brighten up the daily lives of people living with an incurable disease, their loved ones and team members. She will follow Dr. Lawlor’s work schedule and accompany her during medical visits at the patients’ request.
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“We are very grateful to have Bikini’s with us at Maison St-Raphaël and for this partnership with Mira’s fabulous team. For many people, animals inspire little moments of happiness and comfort, so precious at the end of life. Bikini has already adapted very well to Maison St-Raphaël, and we’re thrilled with the positive effects of her being here among us.”
-Olivia Lévêque, Executive Director at Maison St-Raphaël
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While the Mira Foundation is known for the guide dogs it trains to accompany blind people, the organization also trains service dogs for young people with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), as well as for special projects such as the Director of Youth Protection and Maison St-Raphaël. These dogs are paired with facilities rather than individuals, and they encourage the sense of well-being in the people they assist.
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“People at the end of life may experience various emotions such as sadness, anxiety, boredom and a sense of isolation. Her presence helps me to establish deeper bonds with patients and their loved ones, through memories, laughter or even just the pleasure of having her by our side as we talk.”
-Dr. Krista Lawlor, Medical Director at Maison St-Raphaël
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According to studies by Mira, the presence of a service dog has both physiological and behavioural benefits, including reduced stress and anxiety, improved sleep quality and increased social contact.
The partnership between the Mira and Maison St-Raphaël began in 2020 when our organization applied for a service dog. We had seen that other palliative care homes had a service dog trained by Mira, with clear benefits to the clientele. Once our application had been assessed and accepted, the dog training could begin.
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“For our special projects, we train a cohort of dogs with general training, similar to the training for ASD service dogs. The one-year training program teaches the dogs to distinguish between their work time and rest time. We then determine which dog will be paired with which project during a nine-day training session held with staff from the eight selected establishments. We chose Bikini for Maison St-Raphaël because she is very calm, a bit lazy in fact, which is perfect for the restful atmosphere needed for a palliative care setting.”
-Charlotte Moses-Bélanger, Senior Coordinator, Special Projects at the Mira Foundation
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Maison St-Raphaël will pay $7,000 a year, over the course of five years, to add this unique member to the team. These costs are very much justified by the care given to the dog, the quality of Mira’s training, the guarantee of having a dog perfectly adapted to our context and, of course, the benefits for our clientele. Specific donors have already supported this promising project for people at the end of life and their loved ones. If you’d also like to contribute, you can make a donation by clicking here.
After the training at the Mira site, Bikini spent a week getting used to her new home and work environment. During this time, no one was allowed to touch her to ensure that she followed her handler’s instructions. Since then, she has been gradually introduced to the home’s clientele and staff. The trainer from Mira will come in periodically for observations and follow-ups to make sure Bikini is still meeting our clientele’s needs.
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“Before going to see a patient, I always ask if they would like Bikini to come with me. Some people are not comfortable with dogs, and it’s essential for us that everyone at Maison St-Raphaël feels safe. I’d say at least half of the people are very excited to see the dog. Some find it relaxing to pet her. Others simply enjoy looking at her, as her presence brings them a sense of joy.”
-Dr. Krista Lawlor, Medical Director at Maison St-Raphaël
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With a view to offering an exceptional experience, Maison St-Raphaël encourages the presence of animals on its site. In fact, it allows people admitted to the care home to have their pets with them in their room for the duration of their stay, as long as the animal does not disturb the serenity of the care home. People can also have their pets visit them, if their pet is being looked after by a loved one.
When she’s not visiting patients, Bikini is often out giving her unconditional dog love to visitors, loved ones and the Maison St-Raphaël’s team. She is certainly a welcome addition to our warm and caring environment. Thank you to the Mira Foundation for its trust, and welcome Bikini!
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