Our St Catherine’s Nursing Home is now home sweet home to some very well behaved puppies.
The pups, each in their own basket, are more than just cuddly toys for our residents. The lifelike pets “breathe” like real sleeping puppies and were added to the home’s collection of sensory and tactile items for the list of benefits they can offer to our residents. It has been known for some time now that stroking a soft, furry pet can have positive physical and emotional effects and even a realistic substitute can help reduce stress, anxiety and depression.
Family Liaison Manager for our nursing homes, Joanne Bulford, said the pups were an instant hit.
“We have a Spaniel, a Beagle and a Black Labrador,” said Joanne. “Some of our residents have become very attached to them and they’ve produced lots of smiles and evoked memories of their own pets from the past.
Choosing their names has become quite a talking point, too, which has been an added bonus.”