This brochure is to increase worker and employer awareness of the risk factors for violence in hospitals and to provide strategies for
reducing exposure to these factors.

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/2002-101.html

A different kind of activity for sure!

CALICO ROCK— Lois Wehrer’s eyes widen at the sight of a new visitor. She extends her aging hands and grins at the feel of soft fur. It’s one of the few times the 90-year-old smiles.

The woman’s joy comes from a 3-year-old miniature horse named Little Bit.

“He’s so cute,” she said as Little Bit thoroughly licks her hands, hoping Wehrer might be hiding carrots.

The little brown horse with black mane is proving therapy isn’t just for dogs.

Little Bit visits nursing homes four to five times a year to brighten the day of residents. The idea for miniature horse therapy came about when White River Healthcare’s Julie Lawton, who plans activities for the 91-bed facility, asked Little Bit’s owners, Jim and Vera Reeves of Norfork, to bring the horse to the nursing home.

Vera Reeves said residents laugh, smile and sometimes even cry when Little Bit makes an appearance.

“They just love to see him,” she said. “Some are afraid to touch him, but most of them like to pet him.”

Pauline Pinkston woke up from a nap Friday to find Little Bit nuzzling her hand. The former horsewoman, who rode her first horse when she was 2 years old, said petting Little Bit was the highlight of her day.

“That’s the prettiest horse I’ve ever seen,” she said.

Georgia Rand couldn’t help but laugh at the clicking sound of Little Bit’s hooves on the tiled floor.

“Hey there,” she said, addressing Little Bit. “You’re a good horse.”

The Reeveses said they plan to continue to use Little Bit as a therapy horse. They also may train some of their other miniature horses for the job.

“We just love it so much that we keep bringing (Little Bit) back,” Jim Reeves said.

White River Healthcare resident Ophelia Davis said she is glad the Reeveses brought Little Bit for a visit, although she was surprised to see the miniature horse in her room.

“How in the world did you get it in the house?” she asked. “I’ve never had a horse in my room before. If I did, I didn’t know it.”

Neat idea!

I’m not sure I believe this; a nursing home does not close down for a few weeks without any notice...

FREDERICK–Forty-one residents were moved out of the Winlen Oaks Living Center in Frederick over the weekend after employees refused to work after not getting paid. On Wednesday, the attorney for the owners of Winlen Oaks spoke with 7NEWS.

Ty Johnson told 7NEWS today that the reason the staff wasn’t paid was, in part, due to the ice storm two weeks ago.

“Probably the thing, the last straw I guess really had to do with the weather,” Johnson said Wednesday. “This problem with the payroll, this glitch really, is a ripple effect.”

The problem with the payroll surfaced after the home needed to buy a new generator following the ice storm two weeks ago that knocked out power to parts of Frederick. Johnson said that he was informed that there was enough money to make payroll today and all employees should be getting paid.

“What we needed was a back-up for the back-up, so we had those other expenses,” Johnson said.

Johnson said the owners of Winlen Oaks, Cole Brothers Incorporated, have told him they have no intention of shutting down the home for good. Johnson said once they can hire back the licensed employees necessary to run the home, they will then invite back the residents who were forced to leave the home this weekend.

“To the residents, a move on such short notice is hard on everyone. We want to apologize,” he said. “To the employees, we hate that this happened and we hope today, we can start the process of mending these fences.”

7NEWS did speak with two Winlen Oaks employees over the phone on Wednesday night. One employee said her paycheck did go through, the other said her check bounced.