Brookdale Ithaca is a senior living community located on Bundy Road at Rt 96 in Ithaca. We currently visit elderly residents in assisted living and also residents with early memory issues at an adjacent building, The Crossings. Visits are as a group and take place mainly in the central living rooms, so your animal must be able to get along well with other animals in close quarters. We are occasionally asked to visit someone in their room. There are a few cats and dogs in resident’s rooms, but they are generally not out during visits. The majority of the residents are reasonably mobile though some use walkers or wheelchairs. The residents love our visits, and it is not uncommon to be told that our visit made their day.

Team Leader: Donna Hopple: dhopple@ottcmail.com

Cornell Companions has been visiting CMCI, the hospital serving the Ithaca area, since May 1999. Currently, volunteers visit three different units at the hospital: the Mental Health Unit, which is divided into adult and adolescent sections, the Rehabilitation Unit, and the Pediatrics Unit. Two volunteers are assigned to each unit per visit. Volunteers may visit on Saturday afternoons or on Thursday evenings. On Tuesday afternoons, one volunteer and her cat participate in an Animal-Assisted Therapy program that has been incorporated into the treatment protocol of the Mental Health Unit.
Because of New York State Board of Health regulations, there is a strict protocol for the visits. For quality assurance purposes, documentation of immunizations and a physical is required of all volunteers, as is documentation of vaccinations, safety, and suitability of pets. Volunteers must attend a hospital volunteer orientation in addition to Cornell Companions training sessions.

Volunteers have developed a wonderful rapport with the patients and staff. The staff looks forward to Cornell Companions' visits just as much as the patients, as it is "therapy for [them] as well."

Team Leader: Laurie Williams, avathetherapydog@gmail.com

Cayuga Nursing & Rehabilitation Center is a 144 bed skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Center situated on the west bank of Cayuga Lake in Ithaca, NY. The facility has three floors. The first floor is primarily for short term rehabilitation, the second and third floors are primarily long term care residents. Cornell Companion Teams will visit with residents in a common room.

Evidence of vaccinations are not required at this time. Volunteers must attend a CNRC volunteer orientation.

Team Leader: Ellen Tremante, trem0043@umn.edu

Distance from Cornell: 4.91 miles, 11 minutes
101 Dates Dr.
Ithaca, NY 14850
607-274-4150
http://www.cayugamed.org/

Kendal at Ithaca is a life care retirement community that offers a wide range of health care services to its residents. Cornell Companions visits the residents that live in the Health Center, where they receive either assisted or skilled care from the Kendal staff. Volunteers visit either individual rooms or common areas throughout the facility. They often visit individually, but often pair up and visit a room as a "team". They are treasured volunteers at Kendal and the residents look forward to their visits each week. Since visits take place right after the dinner period ends, volunteers often hear of residents rushing back to their rooms right after dinner so they don't miss the pets!

Team Leader: Steve Hall- steve.hall001@gmail.com

Longview is a tax-exempt charitable organization that provide various housing options from patio homes, apartments, assisted living and enhanced assisted living, plus many supportive services and collaboration with many community partners.   Cornell Companions visits with twice a month, once on the assisted living floor and once on the enhanced assisted living floor.  Visits are open to all residents.  Longview also collaborates with Ithaca College students and faculty on aging studies, occupational therapy, physical therapy.  Cornell Companions has partnered with Ithaca College for animal-assisted therapies through Longview.

Team Leader; Janet Gray jsg4@cornell.edu

The Racker Center's Early Childhood Services Program consists of children 3-5 years of age. This is an integrated program in that children with special needs are schooled along with children who do not need special attention. Cornell Companions have been visiting the Racker Center since the Summer of 1997. Volunteers visit as one large group, and when weather permits, visits are held outside. 

Team Leader: Jean Snow- snowmom7452@gmail.com

The Racker Center on Wilkins Road provides daycare and preschool education for children up to 5 years old. It serves primarily, but not exclusively, children with special needs. Handlers and their dogs gather in the foyer of the school, teachers and staff bring the children to us in small groups. The children are well supervised, but can still be rambunctious. This is a situation for dogs who do well with high energy and unpredictability. C

Distance from Cornell Vet College approximately 7.5 miles, 20 minutes, 3226 Wilkins Road Ithaca, NY 14850

The Racker Center in Cortland provides daycare and preschool education for children up to 5 years old. Most, but not all children have special needs. At this site, we go room to room (5 rooms total). Again, dogs who visit here must do well with high energy and unpredictability. 

Distance from Cornell Vet College is approximately 17 miles, 25 minutes., 882 NY-13 Cortland, NY 13045