Bracknell care home surprises residents with ‘paw-fect’ visitor

A care home in Bracknell surprised residents with a ‘paw-some’ visitor for an afternoon of cake, coffee, and cuddles.

The Care UK team at Bickerton House, on Warfield Road, welcomed Charlie, a seven-year-old labradoodle for residents to enjoy an afternoon of games and cuddles with.

 

Residents enjoyed playing ball with Charlie in the home’s lounge and learning about his background, favourite places and food preferences. Alongside group activities, residents also had the opportunity to spend time with their new furry friend in one-on-one sessions that they enjoyed with cake and coffee, prepared by the home’s Head Chef, Robert Whitehead.

Alongside cuddles and cake, residents were encouraged to share their own pet experiences and favourite animal memories. Commenting on the day, resident Maxine, said: “I enjoyed the cuddles and love I received from Charlie and can’t wait for him to come back again. He was lovely!

Erika Smith, Home Manager at Bickerton House, said: “At Bickerton House, we are always looking to plan interesting and exciting activities for residents, and as so many have a keen interest in animals, we were delighted to welcome Charlie, our favourite four-legged friend, for a fun animal therapy session."

“Being in the company of animals has proven therapeutic benefits for older people, particularly for those living with dementia, as it can reduce anxiety, release calming endorphins, and decrease feelings of loneliness. You could see from the resident’s reactions just how engaged they were when given the opportunity to be in the company of their four-legged friend."

“It was wonderful to see the smiles on resident’s faces as they each enjoyed some quality time with Charlie. The visit created a lot of excitement among the residents and team members alike, with Charlie’s playful personality certainly putting a smile on everyone’s faces."

Bickerton House has been designed to encourage residents to live active and fulfilling lives, while remaining as independent as possible in a safe environment. The state-of-the-art care home, which opened last year, provides full-time residential, nursing and specialist dementia care, and features a bar and café, cinema, hair salon, activities room and garden.

For more information about Bickerton House, please call Customer Relations Manager, Suzanne Woodward at suzanne.woodward@careuk.com or call on 01344 989943.

For more general information, please visit: careuk.com/bickerton-house.