Media Contact: 

Michael Schwartzberg, GBMC Media Relations Manager
(O): 443-849-2126/Cell: 410-258-3465/Pager: 410-389-2758

Therapy for the Soul: Dogs Lift Spirits of Elderly Patients at GBMC
and at Hospice of Baltimore’s Gilchrist Center

BALTIMORE, Md. – December 14, 2006 - When Gunner and Tucket walk into the Acute Care for the Elderly (ACE) Unit at the Greater Baltimore Medical Center, or into Hospice of Baltimore’s Gilchrist Center, heads turn, staff smile, and patients often begin to feel at least a little better. Gunner, a cuddly four-year-old poodle, and Tucket, a gentle 11-year-old black Labrador retriever, are not the usual visitors to GBMC or Gilchrist Center.

Sandra and Dr. Samuel Lumpkin began taking their dogs on patient visits to the Gilchrist Center about two years ago, where they visit every Friday afternoon, from 2-4 p.m. with patients and family members.  “The  animals ‘de-hospitalize’ the environment and have a calming, reassuring effect with many patients,” said Aaron Charles, M.D., a geriatrician by training who serves as assistant medical director for Hospice of Baltimore and medical director of the ACE Unit.

Recently, Dr. and Mrs. Lumpkin began bringing Gunner and Tucket for patient visits at the ACE Unit, which opened this fall as  a specialized 27-bed in-patient clinical area dedicated to caring for geriatric patients.  The first such unit at a Baltimore County hospital, it includes an interdisciplinary team of clinicians specially trained to meet the unique healthcare needs of elderly patients.  The Lumpkins and the dogs visit with ACE Unit patients every other Monday between 2-4 p.m.

“Many seniors love their pets,” said Kathy Ruane, nurse practitioner for senior services, noting the dogs have a definite positive impact with patients. “Some patients may miss the dog or cat they left at home. For others, these dogs remind them of a favorite pet they had in their healthier days.”

The Lumpkins are volunteers with National Capital Therapy Dogs, an affiliate of the Delta Society’s Pet Partners Program, a non-profit, volunteer-based organization that provides Animal-Assisted Activities and Animal-Assisted Therapy services. Dr. Lumpkin is a recently retired GBMC physician who practiced with ENT Associates for more than 40 years, and his wife was one of the first speech-language pathologists employed at GBMC’s Milton J. Dance Jr., Head and Neck Rehabilitation Center when it opened more than 25 years ago.

“We love to do things with our dogs and wanted to stay connected with GBMC,” said Sandra Lumpkin.  “Human-canine bonds are very strong. The dogs bring so much healing to the patients we see.”  Dr. Lumpkin said some patients want the dogs to rest their heads on their laps while others want to see the dogs do tricks.  “It induces relaxation and provides a level of emotional support that’s important for the healing process.”

Editor’s Note: Gunner, Tucket and Dr. & Mrs. Lumpkin will be visiting with patients in GBMC’s newly-opened Acute Care for the Elderly (ACE) Unit on Monday, Dec. 18, 2-4 p.m. and with patients at Hospice of Baltimore/Gilchrist Center on Friday 12/22, 2-4 p.m. Media visits/interviews are welcome.

About GBMC

GBMC includes Greater Baltimore Medical Center (GBMC), Central Maryland’s leading community hospital; Hospice of Baltimore, which provides comfort and care to patients with life-limiting illnesses; the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Community Health Center, which offers comprehensive health and family services to the residents of East Baltimore; and the GBMC Foundation, which supports the GBMC mission by managing fundraising efforts.  The 300-bed Medical Center, located on a beautiful suburban campus, serves nearly 22,000 inpatients annually and provides approximately 50,000 emergency room visits. For more information, go to www.gbmc.org

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