Barking up the right tree: Holiday Retirement invests in Pet

1. Barkinguptherighttree: HolidayRetirement invests inPettherapytoboostseniors’Healthand Happiness Leadingsenior livingprovider welcomes furry and feathered companionstoimproveresidents’qualityoflife LakeOswego,OR,April10,2015 —HolidayRetirementisturning tofour-legged caregivers toimprove itsresidents’lives.Recognizing thatanimalshaveasingularly positiveimpact onthelives of itsresidents,theseniorliving provider, whichoperatesmorethan300communitiesacrosstheUnitedStates,has becomeincreasinglydedicated tofinding ways toinvolveanimals inseniors’lives.HolidayRetirementencourages theuseof therapy petsinitscommunities,operates pet-friendlycommunities,and hasjust launchedaseriesofresourcesfocusedonhelping seniors connectwith pets. Increasingly,pet-friendlysenior living has becomeasought-afteroptionamongretirementcommunitiesacrosstheUnitedStates.Itisnosurprise,giventhatanimal companionship hasproven toimproveseniors’health,reduceanxietyand depression,and evenhelpseniorslivelongerlives. “HolidayRetirement strives toprovidetheoptimalenvironment forresidentsofourseniorlivingcommunities, whichiswhywearededicated tohelping seniorsconnect withanimals,”said HarveyBrownlee,chiefoperating officerforHolidayRetirement.“Theunconditional loveananimalcompanionprovidescanhelp easethetransitionintoretirement living,provideongoingcompanionship,and improveoverall qualityof life.” According tooneof theearliest studiesonpettherapy, spending time withanimalshelpsincrease longevity.Astudypublished in1980showed thatheart attack patientswhoowned petslived longerthan those whodid not.Morerecently,a2005researchproject fromUCLAMedicalCenterinLosAngelesfound thata12-minutevisitwithdogshelped heart and lungfunctionanddecreasedanxiety. Herearefourexamplesof thewaysin whichHolidayRetirement communitieshaveconnectedtheirresidentswiththerapeuticaccesstoanimals. Catsanddogsmaybeconsideredthe“usual suspects”astherapypets,but forresidentsatJordan Oaksin Cary,North Carolina,miniaturehorsesprovidesmilesandadoseofnostalgia.Today’sseniorsoftengrewupinsmall townsorrural areaswhereridinghorseswasacommonpastime; seeing and interacting withtheminiaturehorsesfromHorseHugsbringsback specialmemories. At KitteryEstatesinKittery,Maine,residentsknowfirsthand howmuchatherapydogcanhelpincreasesocializationandminimizefeelingsofdepression.Their weeklyvisitsfrom CanineCompanionOrganizationarefilled withsmilesand laughter. Oneresidenteventakesthe

2. opportunitytoleaveher wheelchairto sit on thefloor with thedogs. ForresidentsofRiver’sEdge inSavannah,Georgia,tropicalbirdsmakeregularvisits.Trained tobehands-onthrough“WingsofJoy,”thesebirdsareawelcomed treatforresidents–makingthemselvesathomeonseniors’shouldersandperforming special tricks. AtAstor Houseat SpringbrookOaksinNewberg, Oregon,therapypetscomein all shapes and sizes.Fromminiatureponiestoablacklabnamed Cherokee,residentstrulyenjoytheregularvisitsfromtheseanimalfriends.Additionally,residentshavemadetripsout toasmall ranchinOregonwheretheyfeed and pet thehorses.“Ilovethesmellofhorseonmyhands; Idon’t plan onwashingmyhandsforafewdays,”saysoneresident. “Forseniorswhohavepets,wewant themtobeabletohaveexperiences inourcommunitiesthatbenefit theirqualityof life,”said Brownlee.“Forthose whodonothavepets,therapypetsofferanalternativein whichseniorscanstillget thesebenefits.” HolidayRetirement isdedicated tohelping seniors inevery livingsituationexperiencethebenefits of petcompanionship.Ifyouora lovedoneareinterested inadopting a petforasenior,visitholidaytouch.com/petsforseniorsforachecklist,“Choosing thePerfectPetforaSenior.”The checklistoffersadviceand tipsforchoosing asenior-friendlypet.Additionally,aninfographic,“ThePet Perspective,”offerstwo- and four-legged friends’viewpoint on whyseniorsmakethebestowners. MediaContacts:BrianK.FawkesHolidayRetirement(971) 245-8837 brian.fawkes@holidaytouch.com About Holiday Retirement Since1971,HolidayRetirement hasendeavored toprovideitssignature“HolidayTouch”toresidentsand theirfamilies.Today,Holidayisa trusted nameinseniorliving and providessecurity,comfort,and valuetoindependent seniorsseeking afulfillinglifestyle.Holidayoperatesmorethan300retirementcommunities,making it thesecond largestseniorhousing operatorintheUnited States.FormoreinformationaboutHolidayRetirement,pleasecall800-322-0999orvisitwww.holidaytouch.com. Contact: MollyKoch CommunicationsStrategyGroup3225East2nd Avenue Denver,CO80206 720-726-5435 mkoch@csg-pr.comhttp://www.holidaytouch.com ###