Rescued animals help elderly battle isolation during pandemic

Keeping elderly residents in group homes healthy is challenging and even more so during the worldwide pandemic but one volunteer organization in Brazil is using rescued animals to do just that.

Brazilian NGO, Golias Animal Rescue, saves abandoned animals and uses them to provide elderly residents with social interaction, curbing the effects isolation can have on their mental health.

Founder Gleicy Taranto said it was important for the elderly to interact with the animals, and "with other people," so they feel less lonely.

Residents at the "Loving Arms" nursing home in Rio de Janeiro either don't have family members or friends to visit them, or can't receive visitors because of rules designed to avoid the spread of the coronavirus.

The animals are unlikely to spread the virus and organizers say it's the perfect way to provide elderly residents with a moment to enjoy interacting with the animals.

(Representational Image)

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