Chingford care home welcomes new friends

 

A care home in Chingford has welcomed some unusual guests for an afternoon of fun with residents. 

The team at Care UK’s Ivy Grove, on Hatch Lane, saw a variety of animals slither and wriggle onto the guest list to meet the residents for an afternoon of animal therapy. 

Residents were able to interact with the animals, which included a snake, millipede, mouse and a gecko brought in by the team at Zoolab, which provides ethical animal encounters. 

As part of the session, residents were able to learn interesting facts about each of the animals, including their habitats and their favourite foods. Keen for the full animal encounter experience, residents weren’t rattled by handling the animals – including Mr Jangles the snake. 

Commenting on the afternoon, 73-year-old resident Christine Jones said: “I love it when the zoo comes. We get to see all these creatures that you would normally see in the jungle. My favourite animal was the millipede because you can feel all its little legs move across your hand. It feels tickly”

Jacob Mante, General Manager at Ivy Grove, said: “Here at Ivy Grove, we are always planning new and exciting activities for residents. With so many animal lovers at the home, we knew a special visit from some unusual creatures would be the perfect surprise. 

“Whether big or small, spending time with animals can be incredibly beneficial for older people, as being around them can instantly help to lift a person's mood and encourage social interaction, especially for those living with dementia. You could see from the residents' faces just how much they enjoyed spending time with the animals and learning all about them. 

“I’d like to extend a big thank you to the team for arranging a lovely afternoon for all involved, and especially to Zoolab for bringing the animals into the home!”