Cedar Court Dementia Care Home's Newest Residents

We would like to take a moment to introduce you to Minnie, Mo and Dot (in that order). These beautiful girls have moved into a palace at Cedar Court Dementia Care Home, where they will spend their time soothing staff members and residents with plenty of cuddles, squeaks of support and thoroughly adorable escapades. Having moved in on Friday the girls have already met many of the residents, and have elicited smiles and coos from just about everyone they met along the way. One gentleman was particularly taken with the 'lovely' piggy he found in his hands, while another resident commented on the guinea pigs that she'd kept when she was younger.

Our hope is that Minnie, Mo and Dot will help to ease the anxiety that many of our residents experience during the course of living with dementia. Their soft, snuggly fur is a wonderful antidote to stress, while the squeaks and chirrups that they emit has already helped those that they have met to smile. Staff members will be just as welcome to cuddle the guinea pigs; while introducing them to their new home enrichment coach Alex could feel himself relaxing as he soothed Mo. Small, immediately friendly and ever so patient these guinea pigs are already settling in.

The girls' hutch is something of a palace, which has been established outside in the enclosed and sheltered courtyard garden.

When they're not snuggling with residents the guinea pigs have a warm, cosy hutch to retire to. We've been reliably informed that they'll be in receipt of all of the veggie and fruit scraps from the kitchen, as well as treats of their own!

Dot exploring her new home.

There have been so many studies to suggest the benefits of PAT animals and therapy pets; cats, dogs and even horses have been used to soothe and calm patients and residents in hospitals, hospices and care homes, and it's certainly not difficult to see why their presence is so comforting. Minnie, Mo and Dot will grow up being handled carefully by residents and staff, and give everybody a responsibility, a sense of ownership, and an opportunity to care for something utterly gorgeous!

We hope that our residents and staff members will enjoy spending time with Minnie, Mo and Dot; we think they're going to be very spoiled in their new home!

- Louise, Marketing Assistant

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