One shell of a day! Halstead care home residents host unusual visitors

A care home in Halstead recently opened its doors to some creatures great and small. 

Residents at Care UK’s Colne View, on Dame Mary Walk, were thoroughly ‘shell-shocked’ when a herd of quirky animals paid them a visit.

Among the creatures was a pair of meerkats, Bubba and Bertie, a snake, and 25-year-old Dave the tortoise, from Promenade Petting Zoo. 

The residents were able to interact with the visiting animals and learn about their new furry – and scaly – friends, prompting them to reminisce about trips to the zoo in younger years and pets they’ve had throughout their lives.

Brian Cole, a resident at Colne View, said: “It was amazing to see these animals up close and I was fascinated to learn that meerkats have remarkable eyesight – they can spot birds miles away on the horizon!”

Monica Boldeata, Home Manager at Colne View, said: “We’re always looking for exciting new ways to put a smile on the resident’s faces and keep everyone entertained.

“Being around animals is a great way of promoting relaxation and improving wellbeing in older people, by providing companionship and increasing activity levels. Residents loved holding the animals and learning more about how they are cared for, and it was lovely to hear everyone sharing stories of their own childhood memories and experiences connected to different creatures.

“We’d like to say a huge thank you to Promenade Petting Zoo for such a wonderful day – we are looking forward to planning our next exotic animal encounter!”

Colne View is a care home designed to deliver the very best standards of care, and to enable residents to live active and fulfilled lives. The home offers a range of services including residential care, specialist dementia care and respite care.

To find out more about Colne View, please contact Senior Customer Relations Manager, Kim Richardson, 01787 389474, email kim.richardson@careuk.com or visit careuk.com/colne-view.