Flexible Visiting Hours
Contact with family and loved ones is adjusted according to the attending physician’s instructions, but we do not have a fixed visiting schedule for our patients.

Visits from family, friends, and pets are determined by the attending physician. We do not restrict visits in a protocol-based or unnecessary manner.

Pet Visits
At Pinares, we recognize that pets are an integral part of our patients’ lives, and therapeutically, they play a crucial role in mental health recovery and well-being. Here’s a look at their benefits:

Mental Health Benefits of Pets
Pets provide affection without judgment, questioning, or laughter at our expense. They do not discriminate based on our physical appearance or past mistakes.

Here are the specific mental health benefits of having and caring for a pet:

1. Prevent Feelings of Loneliness
   Having a pet at home helps a person feel more secure and protected. Pets can help alleviate feelings of loneliness and may prevent depression by providing physical contact and companionship. While pets may not speak, their presence ensures one is not alone at home.

2. Alleviate Depression
   People with depression often withdraw from social interactions. Having a bond with a pet gives individuals a reason to get out of bed. While someone may not feel motivated to do anything, they know they need to feed the pet or, in the case of dogs, take them outside. A person might not vent to anyone, but they might find solace in talking to their pet.

3. Increase Happiness
   After spending time playing with a pet, owners experience a rise in oxytocin and serotonin while dopamine increases and cortisol decreases. These hormone changes help reduce stress levels and serve as an antidote to depression.

4. Reduce Stress
   Research by psychiatrist Sandra Baker’s team at Virginia Commonwealth University (USA) measured brain waves of dog owners before and after spending time with their pets. These studies show that having and frequently petting a pet helps reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. It’s recommended to pet, play, walk, and even talk to pets to clear the mind and feel well-being.

5. Boost Responsibility
   Caring for a pet makes us responsible and teaches us to prioritize. For children, having a pet is a chance to learn responsibility and respect for animals. Dogs, in particular, can be excellent teachers, providing a wealth of stimuli that awaken a child’s senses.

6. Improve Social Life
   Walking a pet often leads to social encounters. Parks become gathering spots for dog owners, strangers may approach to pet a puppy, and conversations about pet care or anecdotes may arise.

7. Strengthen Self-Esteem
   Pet owners are more likely to have higher self-esteem, as concluded by researchers from the universities of Miami and Saint Louis. It has also been observed that children with difficulties who read aloud to their pets increase their confidence, as pets won’t laugh at mistakes.

Family Support
During hospitalization, the family will be an integral part of our guest’s healing process through direct and ongoing contact with our psychiatrist, psychologist, and the entire therapeutic team.

Throughout the hospital stay, our therapist will support families through the phases of hospitalization, stabilization, and reintegration into everyday life.

Food Service
Our kitchen is staffed by highly qualified personnel who offer an à la carte menu, with carefully selected recipes and ingredients to meet the preferences and specific needs of our guests, according to the diet prescribed by our doctors or specialists.

The importance of nutrition is highlighted by the fact that the human brain has very high energy demands and requires specialized nutrients. A good nutritional state is essential for mental health, as poor food quality can contribute to the development of conditions like depression.

For the brain to function precisely, we must provide the body with foods that support the formation and maintenance of neurotransmitters, ensuring that neurons remain healthy, protected, and balanced.