CARE HOME RESIDENTS ENJOY DONKEY THERAPY
Residents of a dementia care home in Wellington, Somerset, were delighted to receive a visit from Charlie the donkey, Flora the miniature Shetland pony, pygmy goats Bam Bam and Pebbles, and some rabbits and guinea pigs, accompanied by their handler Kelly Baker of Kelly’s Donkeys and Second Chance Petting Farm.
Twenty-four-year-old Charlie and 12 year-old Flora were taken on a tour inside Camelot House and Lodge, and they also allowed residents to stroke them and feed them treats in the gardens of the home.
Sam Paddon, head of care at Camelot House and Lodge, said the residents’ responses to meeting the animals was touching.
“Many of the ladies and gents who live with us have farming connections, and they were so happy to be able to be so close to Charlie and Flora, to stroke them and smell their lovely smell,” said Sam Paddon.
“They also started reminiscing about seaside holidays and riding donkeys on the beach – either themselves or with their children or grandchildren, and telling us about these memories makes them really happy.”
Kelly Baker, who has worked with horses and donkeys all her life, has been running Kelly’s Donkeys since 2014 from her purpose-built stables on the Somerset/Wiltshire border.
Kelly said: “We have a total of 26 donkeys, all of whom are rescues. With the assisted-therapy donkeys, we select those with calm and gentle temperaments, and we train them to be able to handle working inside, being around wheelchairs, walking on different surfaces, reversing out of bedrooms in tight spaces and standing quietly whilst surrounded by vulnerable people.
“The donkeys wear specially-designed nappies and are trained to use the lift or stairs, providing these meet our safety requirements.
“The welfare of our animals is our top priority and we have a 5* Animal Welfare License, which is testament to that.
“Our visit to Camelot House and Lodge started with us introducing Charlie and Flora to people in the lounge, and then we headed off around the bedrooms to make sure all the residents who wished to had the option of interacting with the animals.
“We had a lovely chat with residents about their backgrounds, animals they have owned and other things donkey- and pony-related, and it was obvious how much they enjoyed telling us about their lives.
“Stroking an animal has been proven to lower blood pressure, and we know that the benefits of bringing ‘the outside inside’ and allowing vulnerable people to interact with animals are huge.
“These meetings can be quite emotional to witness: we find that even residents who are otherwise unwilling to take part in activities, or who rarely speak or don’t seem to want much contact with the world outside their bedroom, can all respond in a positive manner when our wonderful donkeys poke their heads around their doors.”
Camelot House and Lodge is run by award-winning dementia care providers Camelot Care, who also run homes in Bridgwater, Plymouth and Yeovil.
Kelly’s Donkeys www.kellysdonkeys.co.uk are also available to hire for events requiring traditional donkey rides, educational and special needs visits, film/TV/theatre work and seasonal events.
