Sandiacre Court, a purpose-built care home that offers residential, nursing and dementia care, has introduced pet therapy to assist residents in being more active and boosting their interactive skills.
The new four-legged member of the Sandiacre Team is Winston, a Golden Retriever Puppy. Winston has come to Sandiacre to do important work with the residents four days a week, alongside Unit Manager Rebecca. Winston has already visited the Home and made plenty of new friends over the past couple of weeks.
Pet therapy has been shown to have a variety of physical and mental benefits, including improved levels of resident satisfaction, energy, self-esteem, and mood. Pets can help in improving residents’ motor and social skills, as well as helping to keep everyone entertained.
Even though he has just got started, Winston has already been proving this to be the case.
Sandiacre Court has made the decision to implement pet therapy to help further enrich the lives of the residents, alongside an already varied and broad programme of inclusive activities and excursions.
Winston has begun to get involved in activities within the Home and has assisted in getting residents to be more active, and they have enjoyed taking him into the garden for walks. Once he has completed his training and the weather has improved, the residents will be able to go on longer walks with him to help further improve their mobility.
Sue, the daughter of resident Pam, said:
“Mum’s face lights up with a huge smile when she sees Winston and always has to have a cuddle. Mum suffers from Vascular Dementia & Alzheimers which means she is sometimes anxious and tearful and has poor short term memory.
“Winston helps so much as Mum forgets her anxieties when she sees him and whilst she never remembers what she had for her last meal she never forgets Winston; what a great addition he is to the home.”
Emma Hill, Sandiacre Court Care Centre’s Home Manager, said:
“We are so thrilled to have Winston joining us. He is such a positive and impactful presence who the residents already adore, and we are truly invested in the clear benefits of pet therapy.”
