Residents at Paisley Lodge Care Home in Armley, Leeds, enjoyed a nostalgic day at the seaside last week without leaving the comfort of their home.
The day had all the ingredients of a classic trip to the coast, from beach games and ice creams to a traditional fish and chip dinner, with two very special visitors providing the biggest surprise.
Jeffrey, a 30-year-old donkey originally from the USA, and Bullseye, a 15-year-old Shetland pony, arrived at the home with their handlers from Rigmore Reindeer in Ripon.
The four-legged visitors were an instant hit, with residents getting the chance to get up close, stroke them and feed them carrots, while sharing memories of seaside holidays and days out from years gone by.
Residents also got into the spirit of the seaside with a selection of traditional games, including beach-ball catch and beanbag throwing, with plenty of friendly competition and laughter along the way.
For many residents, the familiar tastes, games and experiences helped bring back memories of family holidays, childhood trips to the coast and long summer days beside the sea.
Resident Patricia said: “What an amazing day! I had such a lovely time spending time with the animals and enjoying an ice cream – all without having to get my feet dirty with sand!”
Another resident said: “I used to love going to Whitby with my family – lots of fond memories there. Today really made me smile.”
Craig Chatburn, Home Manager at Paisley Lodge, said: ‘We wanted to bring the magic of a traditional British seaside day to Paisley Lodge, and it was wonderful to see just how much our residents enjoyed it.
“Experiences like this can be incredibly meaningful for people living with dementia and mental health conditions. They can stimulate memories, encourage conversation and create opportunities for people to connect with one another.
Seeing everyone smiling, taking part in the games and sharing their own seaside stories made the day really special.”
