How can we help?
During much of his professional career in graphic design and marketing, Brian Cafarella worked on national campaigns for some of the most famous brands in the world.
His work was featured in advertising for major financial services companies, the National Football League, and even the Olympics.
He and his wife, Jodi, were able to buy their dream home in Rockport, Mass. After many years of promoting corporations, however, Brian felt unfulfilled and wanted to do more meaningful work.
He took a job to rebrand and market a business that owns multiple nursing homes and assisted living facilities in Eastern and Central Massachusetts. He worked with executive directors to help families get their loved ones the care they needed, and he often visited the facilities.
“I was surrounded by residents and saw the great work the certified nursing assistants and nurses were doing,” Brian recalled. “I thought about volunteering at places like that when I retired, but I wasn’t sure how to approach it.”
During some of his facility visits, Brian saw patients react favorably to therapy dogs. Since he and Jodi had owned several golden retrievers, Brian realized that someday he and his dog could become a pet therapy team.
After eight years working for the long-term care management company, Brian decided to stop working full-time in 2023. He took a part-time position as a visitor experience representative for the USS Constitution Museum in Charlestown, Mass. (Since January 2018, he had been volunteering as Public Affairs Officer and unit member for the 1812 U.S. Marine Detachment that serves USS Constitution and the U.S. Navy.)
With a little more time on his hands, Brian decided his five-year-old dog, Patriot, was ready to take pet therapy training. Patriot is a golden retriever who was bred to be a show dog but was deemed ineligible for competition.
“I felt Patriot had a purpose in life,” said Brian. “Even though he’s not a famous show dog and winning ribbons like his dad, Freedom, he could contribute and achieve like the rest of the dogs, just with a different mission.”
Brian took Patriot to Fit-N-Trim Dog Training in Rowley, Mass. Patriot underwent intense training on how to act in a clinical setting with wheelchairs and walkers. Brian proudly recalled that Patriot “passed the seven-week class and did extremely well.”
On the training facility’s bulletin board, Brian noticed a Care Dimensions flyer about the need for pet therapy teams to visit hospice patients. He called in late winter 2024 and took the virtual hospice volunteer training that spring right in the comfort of his own home.
Although his previous job had exposed him to patients in a long-term care setting, Brian hadn’t had any interaction with people on hospice.
“The training taught me how to connect with patients on a deeper level, making it easier to understand and support them through the dying process,” said Brian, whose mother had died in a nursing home. “It was done in a digestible pace and presented in layman’s terms. It opened my eyes to what our patients are experiencing and why, and how to communicate with them.”
Brian and Patriot’s first volunteer assignment was at the Kaplan Family Hospice House to get a feel for how a pet therapy visit may go. The team now sees four or five hospice patients every Wednesday afternoon at Seacoast Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Gloucester, Mass.
“When we walk in, the patients and staff are delighted to see Patriot and gravitate to us,” Brian said. “To break the ice, we infuse a bit of humor and get people comfortable. That leads to whatever they want to talk about – it may be Gloucester, family history, traditions, or their career. They ask about Patriot and me. We have a great dialogue.”
“Brian spends several hours at the facility and really gives the patients time to warm up to Patriot,” observed Care Dimensions Social Worker Ann Miller. “He’s willing to try a few visits with someone who might not be responsive at first. Brian is a very positive and cheerful person and that is infectious! And Patriot brings a lot of joy to the facility as well. The nurses and other residents love him.”
Brian recalled one patient who was having a bad day and not joining others in a group activity.
“As soon as we approached, the patient was smiling and hugging Patriot. It’s miraculous how much joy a dog can give to a patient. To see someone having a hard time and then suddenly, they’re happy and smiling—that’s rewarding.”
Care Dimensions Senior Hospice Aide Melanie Anderson noted the positive effects Patriot has had on one patient. “She asks me every day if he will be visiting! He provides comfort, reduces her stress, and has helped improve her emotional well-being.”
Since becoming a pet therapy volunteer, Brian’s perspective about hospice patients has changed.
“They can still live their lives and enjoy things. That’s not what I envisioned when I first thought about this type of work. During pet therapy visits, I see patients laugh and interact with Patriot.”
Last fall, Brian dressed Patriot in a dragon costume for Halloween. As they were about to leave the facility, a guitarist who was entertaining about 40 residents called the team up front. Everyone joined in singing “Patriot the Magic Dragon” to the tune of “Puff the Magic Dragon.”
“Experiencing something like that makes me feel like I’ve made a difference,” Brian reflected.
“Instead of working on Fortune 500 company national campaigns, now I’m involved in a whole different mission,” he continued. “Outside of the money factor and prominence of the campaigns, what did I really accomplish? I made corporate America more money. I wasn’t making a difference in society. In health care and with hospice, it’s a whole different kind of work. It’s really solid and personally rewarding on a much higher level.
“It’s great to know we made somebody’s day better and gave them some joy,” Brian added. We had an impact. That’s worth more than money. This experience is far more gratifying.”
Learn about becoming a hospice volunteer with Care Dimensions.
About the author
Lisa Conti is Senior Marketing Communications Specialist at Care Dimensions and manages its Voices of Care blog.
Remembering Care Dimensions' first therapy dog, who brought comfort and joy to countless hospice patients and their families. ...
Continue readingFor Care Dimensions volunteer Dave Houle, his dog, Dolce, is not just a best friend but half of a team that benefits hospice patients and their families in Greater Boston. ...
Continue readingA passion for caring led Annie Bonazoli to become a hospice volunteer. Each fall, she participates in the Walk for Hospice to remember friends who have passed. ...
Continue readingAnyone—patient, family, care provider—can make a referral. Fill in the form online or call us today.
Since 1978, Care Dimensions, formerly Hospice of the North Shore, has provided comprehensive and compassionate care for individuals and families dealing with life-threatening illnesses. As the non-profit leader in advanced illness care, we offer services in over 100 communities in Massachusetts.
Copyright 2025 | Care Dimensions, 75 Sylvan Street, Suite B-102, Danvers, MA 01923 | 888-283-1722 | 978-774-7566 |