Four dogs wandered back and forth from the front lobby to the day room, tails wagging as they mingled with residents and greeted new visitors walking through the door.

"Animals are a lot of company to people, especially sick people," said Lois Hopper, 85, as she patted Rusty, a soft-coated Irish wheaten terrier on the head.

Christmas music played in the background and the hallways were a flurry of activity, residents socializing with staff and each other.

By bringing in animals, children and making some decorating changes, the staff at the Kings Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Hanford have been trying to improve quality of life and break the stereotype of the depressing nursing home.

"We make it a place to live, to get recovery," said Kings Nursing & Rehabilitation Center Administrator Brian Kallio, about the facility. "It's not a place for people to spend the rest of their lives, but some do."

Kallio said most of the people that come to the facility have just come from the hospital and are there for short-term care.

"Like if they've had a hip fracture or a stroke," Kallio said. "We have a lot of people that end up going home after therapy services."

The ages of the residents ranges from the 20s on up. Some of the younger residents have disabilities or were in motor vehicle accidents.

"We have a good blend of people, some longer term, some shorter term," Kallio said.

Kings Nursing recently joined the Eden Alternative registry, a nonprofit organization seeking to improve quality of life for the aging and disabled with such innovative efforts as bringing animals to the homes.

The attempt is to make the nursing facility feel more like a home.

"The staff, residents and families all become a part of it," said Zelma Howard, a local nursing home patient's rights advocate, referring to the Eden Alternative program. "It can't help but help the facilities."

Among the Eden Alternative recommendations is bringing in companion animals so residents can care for them.

Kings Rehab has a volunteer, Lemoore resident Janet Peterson, who brings four dogs and a three-legged cat to the facility every Friday. The dogs wander about the facility off the leash. Residents go up to pet them or Peterson brings them in to their rooms.

Peterson said her dogs love visiting the facility every week.

"Their tails start wagging as soon as we pull into the parking lot," said Peterson. "Then they get out and tear up to the door."

In addition to the visiting dogs and cats, the Kings Nursing center also now has two small birds and some fish living there full time.

Kallio said the center is also hoping to adopt its own dog, a golden retriever, from an organization in Woodlake that trains assistance dogs.

He said the dog costs several thousand dollars, but the center intends to do fundraising events to pay for it.

If they get the dog, Kallio said the residents and staff will help care for it.

Kallio said the center also encourage staff to bring their children into the facility, as a way of creating a more home-like atmosphere.

Marina Hernandez, a dietary assistant at the facility, said she's been bringing her 8-year-old daughter, Amber, to work every day for a year.

Hernandez said Amber comes to the facility around 2:30 p.m. every day and stays until Hernandez leaves at 4:30 p.m.

She said her daughter loves coming with her.

"She runs around, she talks to residents, brushes their hair, does their nails," Hernandez said. "She cries because she can't be here more."

The residents like the visits from Amber, Hernandez said.

Hernandez said everyone is always asking her, 'what day, what time is your daughter going to come?'

Kings Nursing resident Jean Villi said she always likes getting to see children.

"We don't see them very often, I really enjoy it," Villi said.

The reporter may be reached by e-mail at 582-0471, ext. 3052.

(Dec. 19, 2006)