Healthcare Management Solutions

Residents at Morpeth’s Riverside House care home have a new four-legged friend who visits weekly for afternoons of fun, treats and cuddles.

Isla, a rescued border collie, is visiting the home every Friday with her owner and local scout leader Sally Vaughan, to offer animal therapy sessions. The sessions aim to improve the wellbeing and health of residents, including support for those with dementia and can even unlock forgotten memories.

She enjoys strolling around the common areas of the home, chasing after soft balls thrown by residents, being stroked, and wagging her tail.

The visit has been orchestrated in partnership with the charity, Pets As Therapy which was founded in 1983 and is solely run by volunteers to provide visiting services in hospitals, care homes, schools and other establishments.

Richard Dobinson, activities co-ordinator at Riverside House said “Pet therapy is known to help with mental stimulation and encourages interaction and social contact and it can even help reduce blood pressure.

“These visits bring a real smile to the faces of our residents and bring back happy memories of times past. It is only one of the many activities we put on, which include performances from an Elvis tribute and visits from local nursery children”

Sally Vaughan, Pets As Therapy said “Studies have shown that interacting with a pet can improve a person’s mental health and overall wellbeing. Isla doesn’t bark and prefers to be in a quiet environment which makes Riverside House the ideal place for her to visit

“She loves being spoiled by the residents and her tail never stops wagging!”

Julie Roper, Home Manager said “The happiness that Isla brings to our residents is amazing. Tasks can be forgotten, dates become hard to remember but the feeling of love and happiness never goes away”

[Resident A] said “Seeing Isla brightens up my day and brings back happy memories of playing with pets throughout my life, she gives the best cuddles!”

Riverside House, on Low Stanners in Morpeth, specialise in dementia care and received a GOOD rating by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

ENDS

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Notes to editors:

Healthcare Management Solutions provides care home operators, owners, banks, financiers and insolvency practitioners with management, support, monitoring, business review and quality audit for the assets they are involved with in the care home sector.

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