Residents at a care home in Brigg enjoyed an afternoon full of festive smiles thanks to a special Christmas animal therapy visit from The Purple Pig Farm, an organisation that brings friendly animals into care settings, schools and community groups to support wellbeing and social confidence.
An owl, rabbits, guinea pigs, a tortoise and even a bearded dragon were among the animals welcomed into the home. Each one was brought round for residents to stroke and learn about, with the session adapted so people could take part from the communal lounges or from their own rooms if they preferred a quieter space.
The Birches, owned and managed by social care group HICA, provides residential support for adults with learning disabilities and autism. The visit was funded through the HICA Shine Fund, which has given every HICA home the opportunity to organise an inclusive activity this year, with an emphasis on events that residents of all abilities can enjoy.
Anita Gregory, Manager at The Birches, said: “It was a lovely afternoon and the reaction from residents was brilliant. The animals were so calm, which helped everyone feel comfortable and curious. It encouraged a lot of conversation, especially from people wanting to talk about pets they’d had or animals they remembered growing up. Sessions like this make a genuine difference to people’s confidence and help bring the home together, and it felt particularly special to do it at this time of year.”
Residents continued talking about the visit long after the session had ended, with many saying how unusual and enjoyable it was to meet an owl at such close range.
Resident Tracey Harris said: “I never thought I’d find myself sitting in the lounge with an owl quite literally a few inches away from me, and it was such a gentle, steady little thing that I felt completely relaxed with it. I’ve always liked animals, but I’ve never been this close to something like that before and it brought back all sorts of memories of pets we had when I was younger. It brightened the whole afternoon and made the place feel even more festive.”
