Ascend Pet Peace of Mind Program

Research has shown that pets provide numerous benefits to people facing serious illness, including:

• Emotional comfort and reduced anxiety: Studies have demonstrated that interacting with pets can lower cortisol (stress hormone) levels. For hospice patients experiencing anxiety about end-of-life concerns, their pet’s familiar presence provides irreplaceable comfort that medication alone cannot deliver.
• Companionship during a difficult time: Hospice patients often experience feelings of isolation as their condition progresses. Pets offer consistent, non-judgmental companionship and unconditional love. This special bond can reduce feelings of loneliness and provide emotional support when patients need it most.
• A sense of normalcy and routine: When so much is changing for hospice patients, pets provide continuity and purpose. The daily rituals of caring for or simply being with a pet maintain familiar routines and responsibilities that anchor patients during times of transition, helping them maintain dignity and identity.
• Unconditional love and acceptance: As patients experience physical changes or limitations, pets continue to offer the same affection and acceptance they always have. This unconditional positive regard provides immense psychological comfort when patients may feel vulnerable or changed by their illness.
• Physical benefits from interacting with pets: Even limited physical interaction with pets can provide tangible health benefits including reduced blood pressure, decreased pain perception, and improved mood. Peace of mind pet care ensures these benefits continue throughout the hospice journey.

The Ascend Health Pet Peace of Mind program helps maintain these benefits by keeping patients and pets together during hospice care. Our pet program is designed to alleviate stress for both patients and their family caregivers by removing concerns about pet care during hospice treatment. By providing comprehensive pet care for hospice patients, we allow families to focus on spending quality time together rather than worrying about pet care logistics.