Mar 2020
Larkrise becomes a farm for the day
It is not every day that you see pigs and donkeys in a care home, but recently Larkrise Care Centre in Banbury turned into a petting zoo for the day and were visited by farm animals.
After seeing the joy experienced by residents during a recent visit from a pair of squirrel monkeys, Home Manager Lyndsay Sard and the team decided they had to celebrate national pig month by inviting more animals into the home for residents to interact with.
The therapeutic power of animal interaction for those living with dementia is widely documented and research shows that regular positive encounters with animals can help raise moods and reduce stress levels.
Ms Sard, says: “As a home that provides specialist dementia care we are always thinking outside the box and coming up with creative ways to provide the therapeutic interactions we know can be so effective for those of our residents who are living with dementia.”
The animals, which included two pigs named Bill and Ted (pictured), soon made themselves at home and residents had the opportunity to feed and pet them.
Larkrise is already home to two rabbits, goldfish and a rescue cat named Lucky who all play a big part in life at the home.