Altrincham care home welcomes new friends

 

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

The team at Care UK’s Halecroft Grange, on Hale Road, saw a variety of animals slither and wriggle into the home to meet residents for an afternoon of animal therapy. 

Residents were able to interact with the animals, which included a snake, mouse and a tarantula, brought in by the team at Zoolab, a local animal charity who provide ethical animal encounters. 

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

Commenting on the afternoon, Fiona McCann said: “It’s lovely to see the animals and to learn about each creature. Although I didn’t touch all of them, they were interesting to see.” 

Suzanna Sumegi, General Manager at Halecroft Grange, said: “Here at Halecroft Grange, 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!”

Designed to enable residents to live active and fulfilled lives, while also promoting independence, Halecroft Grange, which remains open to potential residents, incorporates space for hobby and leisure activities. The building has been configured into a series of neighbourhoods to help facilitate the creation of close-knit communities and encourage social interaction among the residents.