Connect with us

Cute Animals

Nursing Home Residents With Dementia Get Special Visit From a Miniature Horse

Published

on

  • Dementia patients at a nursing home in England were “overjoyed” by a morale-boosting visit from a miniature horse named Monet.
  • Residents at Rosevale Care Home in York “benefit greatly” from pet therapy, which allows them to interact with animals.
  • Many residents who usually spend most of the day in their rooms were eagerly interacting with others when they got the chance to stroke a pony.

Dementia sufferers at a nursing home were ‘overjoyed’ to get a special visit from a miniature horse named Monet. The residents rarely see their families due to the pandemic.

According to a staff member at Rosevale Care Home in England, dementia patients “benefit greatly” from this kind of pet therapy. About 90 percent of residents at the home suffer from dementia.

SWNS

Sarah Fearn, the lifestyle and activities coordinator at the home, said many residents who normally spent a lot of time in their rooms interacted with other patients and stroked the horse.

She said: “We put things like this on all the time, different pets every month come into the care home.

Sarah added that Pet therapy is important because it brings back memories for residents and it allows people to express themselves.

SWNS

“It’s really good for people with dementia, Sarah said. “We had a lady who was really upset ten minutes before, she was crying, we took the horse to her and within minutes she was so happy.”

It’s also good for residents who are quiet and don’t mingle. When they see the animal, they talked to other people.

Nearly all of our residents have dementia, I would say 90 percent of our residents suffer from it, so for them something like this is vital.

SWNS

Monet is a ten-year-old male miniature horse who spent around an hour in the home.

Due to pandemic restrictions, visits have been limited and residents at the home have only been able to see their families through a glass screen in the garden.

Advertisement

Sarah said regular interactions with animals help residents to express their emotions and told reporters: ‘We followed all the procedures, we’ve never had a case of Covid.”

SWNS

“They’re missing their families and friends. We have a hut in our garden so people can have visitors, but it is through a glass window, it’s not the same as a human touch.”

Welcoming Monet into the nursing home brings joy to its residents.

Source: Good News Network

Advertisement

Trending