Hythe care home resident enjoys purr-fect day

A resident at a care home in Hythe is feeling like the cat that got the cream after a very special visit.

Shirley-Ann Dow, who lives at Care UK’s Carpathia Grange on Southampton Road, has loved cats all her life.

Her first, Tara, was a chocolate point Siamese she loved and pampered for many years. After Tara, brothers Jeremy and Ivan pounced in to be spoiled by the Dow family. 

However, Shirley-Ann then moved into an apartment that did not allow pets, leaving her unable to keep another feline companion. 

With the team at the care home noticing the treasured photos of her previous cats, conversations arose about her wish to spend time with her lifelong loves again.

They organised a day out to Paws for Thought Cat Café in Romsey for Shirley-Ann to visit with her daughter Lindsay and Carpathia Grange’s Lifestyle Lead, Lorraine Lavers.

The afternoon began with tea and cake to enjoy while cuddling and relaxing with the feline friends. 

Shirley-Ann was in her element as she called the cats over, gently petted them and smiled as she played. She and her daughter reminisced about special memories of their own Siamese cats. 

Shirley-Ann said: “All I can say is it was blooming marvellous! It brought back many wonderful memories”

Shirley-Ann's experience was made possible thanks to Care UK’s Wishing Tree initiative, which allows residents to suggest ideas for new hobbies they’d like to try, places they’d like to visit or even activities linked to past careers. This encourages residents to lead fulfilling lives – from skiing to a fish and chip supper, no wish is too big or small for the team to try to grant. 

Jodie Lavers, Home Manager at Carpathia Grange, said: “It was wonderful to see Shirley-Ann so happy and fully engaged with the cats during her visit.

“Here at Carpathia Grange, we know just how beneficial animal therapy can be for older people, especially for those living with dementia, as being close to animals can help lift a person’s mood and encourage social interaction. Shirley-Ann, along with many other residents, looked after cats throughout her life, so it was a wonderful opportunity to encourage reminiscence of much-loved family pets.

“I’d like to extend a big thank you to the team here and to Paws for Thought for a fantastic day making Shirley-Ann’s wish come true!”

Carpathia Grange is a three-storey care home that provides residential, dementia and nursing care, as well as short-term respite care. It features 62 en suite bedrooms and incorporates plenty of space for leisure activities and hobbies, including its own cinema, hair and beauty salon and pub.