Residents at Queen’s Lodge Nursing Home received some very unusual visitors recently.
We held a ’ big bug day’, as part of our busy residents’ activity programme.
People got to look at, hold and touch (if they opted to) some weird and wonderful creatures, including a Giant African Land Snail, Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches, and a Sun Beetle.
The critters, who belong to Queen’s Lodge staff member Jamie McKie, went down a storm with the residents, and were so successful that a return visit is already being planned.
Queen’s Lodge Activities Coordinator Barbara Winstanley said: “We’re always looking to introduce new and different activities in the home, and this came about after I asked staff if they had any interesting hobbies.
“Jamie told me about her ‘pets’ so I asked her to bring them in and the residents’ reaction was fantastic.
“They were very engaged, and it was a great, stimulating activity for them.”
As well as bringing back happy memories of previous pets or animal-related experiences in places like zoos, animal therapy can have positive effects on unlocking memories for older people, including those living with dementia.
