When a Doctor Illegally Put the ‘HOME’ Back Into Nursing Homes, Death Rates Plummeted

‘He went on to become the medical director of that nursing home in upstate New York. The institutionalized and depressing atmosphere of the facility prompted him to take action.
Even though animals in nursing homes were illegal at the time, Dr. Thomas brought in two dogs, four cats, hens, rabbits, 100 parakeets, a multitude of plants, a flower garden, and vegetable patch.
The Washington Post reported that the illegal act was a resounding success:
All those animals in a nursing home broke state law, but for Thomas and his staff, it was a revelation. Caring for the plants and animals restored residents’ spirits and autonomy; many started dressing themselves, leaving their rooms and eating again. The number of prescriptions fell to half of that of a control nursing home, particularly for drugs that treat agitation. Medication costs plummeted, and so did the death rate.’
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