Ginger brings smiles to rest home residents

A five-year-old dog is helping to bring out amazing conversations from rest home residents who wouldn’t normally speak.

Ginger, the Irish Setter, has a knack for being able to get people to open up, says owner Darren Rowe who takes her to the Te Ata Rest Home, in Te Awamutu, once a month.

‘‘There was this one lady who has a problem communicating and she started to talk to Ginger in her own special way and Ginger was just looking at her saying yeah, yeah, yeah, it was just lovely it was the first time she had communicated with someone in a while.’’

Rowe isn’t surprised that Ginger has the ability to make people open up.

‘‘Ginger has the most amazing eyes. She just looks at someone and they kind of melt.

‘‘One of the things I noticed last time was when people were talking to me it was a very basic conversation as soon as they addressed Ginger they started to open up and talk about their stories and their experiences and that was really lovely to see.

‘‘The main thing with Ginger is that there is no judgment behind Ginger’s eyes.’’

There’s plenty of smiles and memories shared as residents greet their four-legged friend.

‘‘There are a lot of residents who have had dogs before and really like dogs but can’t have dogs here, so Ginger comes in here and sits with them and they can stroke her.

‘‘They told me lovely stories last time about the dogs they’ve had.

‘‘There were a few tears and it’s a way for them to let go of any of their stresses while stroking Ginger.’’

Ginger is very obliging of her time and likes to just lay there and let the residents stroke her.

‘‘We had one woman last time who told us about the dogs she used to have and burst into tears, we were all crying in the end, it was so lovely to see.’’

The rest home’s diversional therapist Lisa Ryan said that there are definite benefits for Ginger to visit the residents.

‘‘It makes them sit up and also allows them to touch.’’

She also said it makes them share their home and it’s made easier that it’s with Rowe.

‘‘He cares and it doesn’t matter that he gets asked the same question over and over again he answers it as though it’s the first time he’s been asked it,’’ Ryan said.

PHOTOS: TOM LEE/STUFF LEFT: Seeing Ginger allows Delores Jensen to remember the pets she used to have. CENTRE: Thelma Broadhurst and Vangey Darys enjoyed having a pat and talk with Ginger. RIGHT: Residents often tell Darran Rowe about the animals they had growing up.

MARK TAYLOR/STUFF Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern visited The Instillery’s headquarters on a recent visit to Hamilton. She’s pictured with from left, The Instillery founder and chief executive Mike Jenkins, Labour MP Jamie Strange, and The Instillery general manager for Waikato Richie Jenkins.