Feathered friends pay a flying visit to Reading care home

 

Residents at a care home in Reading enjoyed an im-peck-able surprise.

Residents at Care UK’s Parsons Grange, in Shinfield, had an afternoon of making friends with a variety of birds of prey, including a hawk and a variety of barn owls including a tawny and great horned. 

The friendly and relaxed creatures were brought into the home by Berkshire Birds of Prey, and on the day an experienced falconer shared their passion for birds of prey and information about the conservation of the impressive creatures and residents were able to hold the birds. 

Commenting on the afternoon, resident Jean, said: “My family will never believe that I actually held a barn owl.”

Daphne, another resident at Parsons Grange, said: “Never have I ever experienced anything like this.”

Rozina Ali, Home Manager at Parsons Grange, said: “We were delighted to get to meet these incredible creatures, the residents had a fantastic day and were able to learn so many new facts. 

“Here at Parsons Grange, we want residents to experience a range of activities that are not only exciting but also beneficial for older people. Animal therapy has been proven to prompt social interaction, increase physical activity and be calming; this activity was perfect for doing just that.

“We’d like to say a huge thank you to Berkshire Birds of Prey for helping us have such a fun and educational day.”

Parsons Grange provides full-time residential, dementia and nursing care, as well as short-term respite care. Designed to enable residents to live active and fulfilled lives, while also promoting independence, the care home has plenty of space for leisure and hobby activities, as well as its own café, hair salon, bar and a cinema for residents to enjoy.