A families special visit to a nursing home has sparked joy in residents

A special visit from a campdrafting family left tears of joy on the cheeks of nursing home residents, when horses were led through the halls of the home.

The Ahern family took the horses right up to bed bound residents to offer a hands on connection.

Two horses and a dog walked into an aged care home and left the residents in tears of joy and reminiscing on their special moments with animals during their youth.

Central and Upper Burnett District Home for the Aged facility manager Jenny Thompson said the Ahern family volunteered their time and animals to bring to residents.

“The family is very active in the community with the horses, and they offered to come in,” she said.

Earlier this month, the family walked through every wing in the village and visited 52 residents, with a special focus on the memory support wing.

“They walked the horses right through the facility, and right up to our bed bound residents,” Mrs Thompson said.

“As soon as they walked in their faces just light up.”

Pet therapy has proven to be beneficial for the residents.

Lifestyle co-ordinator Deb Crawford said the visit was a great way to offer a new kind of therapy for the residents.

“We have a lady who doesn’t really verbalise much, and she was much more verbal during the visit,” she said.

Mrs Thompson said many of the residents who experience memory loss were recalling their own moments with horses and animals from their youth.

“The visit created a chance to reminisce a time from when they were growing up on the farm and going mustering with the horses,” Mrs Thompson said.

“There were tears of joy running down their face from being able to engage with the horses.”

The residents enjoyed the chance to spend time with the animals.

Julie Stevenson’s parents are in the home, and she said seeing the happiness on their faces was a blessing.

“Their smiles said it all. I can’t thank the Ahern family enough for taking the time out of their busy lives to make a lot of elderly people happy,” Ms Stevenson said.

“I don’t know of any other nursing home that goes above and beyond to make their residence so happy.”

The facility hopes to offer equine therapy every second month.

Originally published as A families special visit to a nursing home has sparked joy in residents