Whitebourne residents welcome furry new friends

Home news

Nov 02, 2018

Residents at Whitebourne have made some new furry friends in the form of guinea pigs, Mario and Kirby.

The visit was the wish of residents at Whitebourne, who were delighted to welcome back the friendly guinea pigs after Care UK lifestyle co-ordinator, Frances Halstead, introduced the pair to residents earlier in the year. 

Everyone had the opportunity to stroke and pet the guinea pigs, and residents enjoyed reminiscing about their own childhood pets with the guinea pigs’ owners, Frances and her son. 

Home manager at Whitebourne, Derek Purchese, said: “The visit from Mario and Kirby brought a smile to everyone’s face - they have melted the hearts of the residents and team members! We are always looking to plan interesting and exciting activities for residents and, as so many residents have enjoyed previous animal visits, we were delighted to hear that Frances’ son wanted to bring the guinea pigs back to visit the home and make the residents’ wish become a reality. 

“It was lovely to see residents interacting with the guinea pigs. Spending time with animals can provide many benefits for older people. It can reduce anxiety, lower feelings of isolation, and release calming endorphins. We can’t wait for Mario and Kirby’s next visit!”