Puppy love for residents at town care home
IT WAS puppy love at first sight for residents at a care home.
The residents at Ingersley Court care home enjoyed a visit from a litter of well-behaved basset hound puppies.
The afternoon was organised by staff at the CLS-run home as part of an animal-assisted therapy session, during which residents got to hold, play with and pet their new best friends.
Mabel Glover, aged 103, said: “It was such a lovely afternoon, I hope we get to meet the puppies again soon.”
Beatrice Hill, 96, said she also enjoyed the visit.
She added: “It was so lovely to meet the little pups. It took me right back to when I was a young girl and the day we first got our own puppy, who was incredibly loyal and good-natured.
“They make for the very best pets.”
Animal-assisted therapy is known to help encourage group engagement and social interaction among older people, as well as provide meaningful experiences and have a calming effect.
Jen Jones, Ingersley Court home manager, said: “It was fantastic to watch everyone playing with the puppies, which were extremely well behaved. Plus the number of memories and conversations about past pets that the visit sparked was remarkable.
“For our less mobile residents, we do all we can to try and bring the outside world in.
“Whether that’s through inviting members of the public along to our open events, organising visits from external organisations or holding animaltherapy sessions such as these.
“It’s great to see what a positive impact it has on each person’s day.”