Where’s the paw-ty at? Sale care home host their very own cat café

A care home in Sale had an afternoon of fun when they were joined by some super furry animals. 

Team members at Care UK’s Oakfield Croft, on Oakfield, organised a special event with furry friends as they held their very first Cat Café at the home.

Residents enjoyed cat-themed treats and drinks, while being in the company of two furry friends, Rupert and Maisie. The four-legged guests received plenty of fuss from residents and the opportunity to play with each other.

 

Eight-year-old Rupert, belongs to resident Pamela’s family, and 18-month-old Maisie, belongs to team member Andrea’s daughter. Both enjoy trips outside of their homes and lapped up the attention from residents.

The team hosted cat-inspired activities, with residents taking part in cat-themed bingo and dominos. The winners were presented with hand-painted pebbles and decorated tea light jars, as well as cat-themed necklaces and stuffed toys. There were also cat shaped biscuits baked by the home’s talented Chef for residents to enjoy.

The home created the event after being inspired by the positive impact animal visits have had on care home residents’ wellbeing and on hearing how much they missed the company of their own pets from their younger years.  

Stella Milner, a resident at Oakfield Croft, said: “Just watching the cats at the Cat Café made me so happy. Maisie made me think of my own cat Tiddels, who I loved. I really enjoyed the bingo and didn’t I do well winning a prize!”

Daniel Cole, Home Manager at Oakfield Croft, added: “We had a lovely afternoon hosting our very first Cat Café for residents – and it’s safe to say, everyone had a ball.  

“Studies have shown that introducing animals into care homes can help lift people’s mood and increase social interaction. The human-animal bond is powerful in supporting self-esteem and increasing wellbeing, and welcoming Rupert and Maisie into the home for an afternoon of animal therapy was a great way to do just that.

“We had a purr-fect afternoon at our Cat Café and residents haven’t stopped talking about it since – we’re already planning our next one!”  

Oakfield Croft has been rated ‘Good’ in all five areas by the Care Quality Commission and was named a Top 20 care home for the second year in a row. The home is designed to enable residents to live active and fulfilling lives, while also promoting independence. The care home incorporates space for hobby and leisure activities. The layout of the building is configured into a series of individual suites, each having a dedicated lounge/dining room to help facilitate the creation of close-knit communities, as well as facilities like a cinema, coffee shop and hair salon.