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Runwood Residents benefit from Pet Therapy

Dementia Care Services and Activity Coordinators at Runwood Homes Senior Living do a fantastic job in organising inspirational, heart-warming and uplifting initiatives for all our residents in our care homes across the UK.

An important initiative for each of our homes, who offer a range of professional residential care services including nursing, dementia, reablement as well as respite and short stay care, is to establish and build relationships with local communities, groups and even animals in order to provide a varied programme of activities and experiences for our residents, helping to maintain a stimulated and engaging living environment.

Making invaluable connections and partnerships with organisations, such as Pets As Therapy, a charity offering visits from therapy-trained dogs and their volunteer carers, helps to enrich the lives of those residing with us, many of who are living with dementia. Interaction with pets has well-documented benefits to older people mentally, emotionally and physically, by improving emotional, social and cognitive abilities.

When visiting our homes, Pets As Therapy dogs help improve the lives of older people, including those living with dementia, by bettering motor skills, making them feel happier and lifted, encouraging interaction and also triggering reminiscing conversations. Benefits also include higher comfort levels and a sense of caring and companionship.

Residents at Jubilee Court Care Home with Nursing in Hucknall, Nottinghamshire, are visited by Ozzie every week, and Rolo regularly spends time at Kathryn Court care home in Shoeburyness, Essex, who has recently appeared on The Dog Rescuers TV show and fronted the RSPCA #AnimalKind campaign.

Dogs aren’t the only animals to lighten the lives of our care home residents; Cherry Tree Lodge in Whitnash are visited by Inspired by Ponies, Redbond Lodge in Great Dunmow by pygmy goats and chicks, brought in by Blackwater Alpacas mobile petting farm and exotic animals and their keepers at Spirit of the Wild hold interactive sessions at Windle Court care home in South Woodham Ferrers. Homes looking after their own pets include Evelyn May House in Langdon Hills Essex, who have rabbits and Dunmurry Manor near Belfast look after chickens in their grounds.

At Runwood Homes care homes, situated across Essex, Warwickshire, Nottinghamshire, Suffolk, Norfolk, Hertfordshire and Northern Ireland, we promise to provide a quality of life and sense of wellbeing and truly care for our residents.

To search for a residential care home near you, please visit our Find a Home page. Alternatively, please contact us by clicking here or find out more about our residential care homes and professional care services by calling 01702 559797.