Pet therapy, or more correctly, Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) is a type of therapy that involves animals as a form of treatment. The goal of AAT is to improve a person’s social, emotional, or cognitive functioning –Wiki.

In Apple House care homes, AAT is used as part of an holistic aproach to care and support.  Touch, social integration, sight, scent…the benefits of pet therapy are too numerous to list.  The smile on our residents’ faces as their fingers stroke a loving dog’s fur really, for us, sums the benefits up nicely.

“Yesterday, Redcroft hosted its annual summer garden party and BBQ which featured an aviary professional delivering a live display with his barn owl, ‘Biscuit.’

Both Summerwood and Apple house also attended with invitations having been sent to the families of those whom we support across the three homes.

This event offered a fantastic opportunity for residents and their families to socialise in their home in a relaxed, familiar environment and also to have the chance to meet new people and to build new friendships.  It was also a chance to show their families all the personal touches that they have added to truly make Redcroft their home.

Families also had the opportunity to view Redcroft’s new monthly activities photo board which provides a visual display of special events or activities that their relative has been involved in that month, which could be anything from recent trips to Paultons Park and Stables Summer Fayre to action shots from tennis coaching classes and pet therapy sessions.

This event really did help foster a sense of community and openness between homes and families that the company prides itself on, and to build on and further develop the close relationship that Redcroft enjoys with people who are so important to residents – their friends and families.”

–– Tom Lapham, Snr Support Worker, Redcroft Care Home, Bournemouth.

When Romaine Lawson, Director of Operations, was asked to re-home two cute guinea pigs it was impossible to say no, such is our residents’ love of pets!  Redcroft welcomed the new additions this week.  With a hutch in a shady spot in the garden, our newest pets are now neighbours to our chickens.

Guests of honour this year will be three owls!  The owls are part of our ongoing approach to utilising pet therapy as part of our holistic care ethos.

• We look at activities that are achievable and person centred but that also have an aim and purpose.
• We like to have fun but realise that life is not only about enjoying ourselves. Having freedom to choose what we do every day is a right but along with it comes our responsibility – to ourselves and those around us. Sometimes doing daily chores can be challenging but they are essential to keeping us fit and healthy.

So how do we put this ethos into practice?

Summer is definitely set up to be full of fun but also very productive

 

Pet therapy, or more correctly, Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) is a type of therapy that involves animals as a form of treatment. The goal of AAT is to improve a person’s social, emotional, or cognitive functioning –Wiki.

In Apple House care homes, AAT is used as part of an holistic approach to care and support.  Touch, social integration, sight, scent…the benefits of pet therapy are too numerous to list.  The smile on our residents’ faces as their fingers stroke a loving dog’s fur really, for us, sums the benefits up nicely.