Elderly residents at a Hartlepool care home enjoyed a visit from some friends this week, but not the ones you’d expect.
The Stockton-on-Tees branch of Pets At Home brought along a selection of animals for the Queens Meadow residents to pet and enjoy some quality time with.
The visit aims to bring animal-assisted therapy (AAT) which helps residents with social, emotional, or cognitive functioning issues.
Animal assisted therapy draws on the bond between animals and humans in order to help improve and maintain the mental and emotional wellbeing of elderly residents.
Research suggests that AAT can be useful for educational and motivational effectiveness for care home residents, increasing the rapport between residents, staff and visitors.
Julie Armstrong, manager at Queens Meadow Care Home, on Stockton Road, said: “Not only was it great to see the residents’ faces light up when they saw the animals brought in, we know that on top of that the visit is helping them with the use of animal-assisted therapy.
“I’d like to say a huge thanks to the Stockton-on- Tees branch of Pets at Home for giving the residents such a wonderful afternoon.”