Fish For Therapy

There is already one aquarium up and running as of April 24th of this year, and I have a meeting set up with an administrator of a nearby hospice about setting one up, specifically in the 'terminally ill' wing of the building, ensuring the people whose days are numbered will definitely have a comfortable place to spend their remaining days. So far I can only afford the basics, which is by far better than nothing but I know I could do better work with the existing tanks and set up many more with the resources this grant would provide. The therapeutic effects of fish tanks have been scientifically proven, the presence itself seems to improve brain function and gives people a sense of tranquility, relieves insomnia, helps people with high blood pressure,and even terminal illnesses like cancer. Even watching a video of an aquarium has helped people undergoing surgery require significantly less anesthetics during the procedure (hence the usual tradition of a fish tank in a dentist or doctor's office). One study even proved that Alzheimer's patients ate more, required fewer supplements, and showed less aggressive behavior after an aquarium was placed in the dining room. Especially in a place like a hospice, this kind of help would be priceless. In places with rehabilitation patients, hopefully the aquarium would speed up their stay so they can go back home as soon as possible, opening up the spots for other people who need the care. Additionally I'd like to spread this idea to not only places for the old, but to pre and elementary schools alike for educational purposes, not to mention the aids to hyperactivity disorder in younger children, which would help them focus in the classroom. Given the resources and help from people from my school, this project could spread from my neighborhood to most of south Florida. Not only brightening up places like nursing homes and calming down overactive students, but educating people my age about the conditions these people are exposed to, hopefully inspiring them start their own projects and make a difference in their local communities.