And they called it puppy love – four-legged friends delight Sale care home residents

A re-bark-able duo paid a special visit to a local care home. 

Residents at Care UK’s Oakfield Croft, on Oakfield, welcomed two paw-some PAT dogs in training, Milly and Lily.

 

The three-month-old Cocker Spaniels caused a stir when they arrived at the home to surprise residents and have a tour of the home. Once fully trained, Milly and Lily will become regular visitors at Oakfield Croft for animal therapy sessions. 

PAT (Pets As Therapy) dogs are specially trained to provide comfort and company to people with a range of physical, emotional or behavioural needs. For older people, especially those living with dementia, animal therapy can have many benefits, including reducing anxiety and agitation, as well as promoting independence.

Mavis, who used to have Border Collies, especially enjoyed the visit, which sparked many positive memories. She said: “The puppies have made my day, and I hope they come back to see me again soon.”

Roisin Doyle, Home Manager at Oakfield Croft, said: “We are always looking to plan interesting and exciting activities for residents. Many of them have a keen interest in our furry four-legged friends, and with Milly and Lily set to become fully-fledged members of the Oakfield Croft family once they finish their PAT training, we thought introducing them to residents would be a fantastic way to kick off our animal therapy sessions."

“It proved to be a real success, and you could see from residents’ reactions just how engaged they were by the chance to get so close to these adorable puppies. We know just how beneficial animal therapy can be for older people, especially for those living with dementia – being close to animals can truly help lift a person’s mood, and it also gave us a great opportunity to reminisce and talk about our own pets."

Oakfield Croft has been designed to enable residents to live active and fulfilling lives, while also promoting independence. The new care home incorporates space for hobby and leisure activities. The layout of the building is configured into a series of individual suites, each having a dedicated lounge/dining room to help facilitate the creation of close-knit communities, as well as facilities like a cinema, coffee shop and hair salon.

For more information on Oakfield Croft, please contact the Customer Relations Manager Jayne Eyre on jayne.eyre @careuk.com or call 0161 820 4019.    

For general information about Care UK, please visit careuk.com/oakfield-croft.