Pygmy goats and rabbits visit care home at Barking Hall Nursing Home this week, as residents enjoyed a day meeting and interacting with the animals.
Residents spent time feeding, holding and watching the animals as they moved through different communal areas of the home. Staff supported each resident so they could take part in their own way and at their own pace.
Residents join in at their own pace
Some residents bottle-fed the pygmy goats with help from staff and visiting handlers. Others watched first and then joined in later in the day.
Staff moved the animals through different communal areas so more residents could take part. This helped people join in without feeling rushed.
Rabbits prove popular in the lounges
The rabbits spent time in the home’s lounge areas where residents gently held them. Staff helped pass the rabbits between residents so everyone who wanted a turn could take part.
Many residents smiled and talked while holding the animals. Staff also supported those who preferred to sit and watch.
Activities Coordinator Claire Jane Campbell said the visit went very well.
“It was really lovely to see everyone getting involved. The goats went down a treat, especially when residents were bottle feeding them. The rabbits were constantly being passed around. There was a lot of chatting and laughing, it just felt really nice in the home.”
She also said the visit encouraged more residents to join in than usual.
Home Manager Anna Swed said the impact was clear to see.
“You can tell when something has gone well because people keep talking about it afterwards. It gave everyone something different to focus on.”
About Barking Hall
Barking Hall is set in the Suffolk countryside and provides residential and palliative care in a calm rural setting. Barking Hall Nursing Home has a central courtyard that residents use throughout the year.
Animal visits form part of the home’s weekly activities. Staff encourage residents to join in or simply watch, depending on their preference.
By the end of the day, residents had fed the goats several times and held the rabbits across different areas of the home.
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