Dog owners have shared how taking their pets to visit a care home brings them as much joy as it does for the residents.
Clifton Lodge in Westcliff is run by Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust and provides care for older people, including those with dementia.
Teri Broadhurst first started visiting Clifton Lodge with her terrier Ollie, who has now retired from his visits. She now goes along with Simba roughly once a month.
Teri said: “He absolutely loves it. The more attention he can get, the better.
“I love it too, it brings a little bit of happiness and smiles to the faces of the people we go and see.”
Teri said her 18-year-old grandson sometimes accompanies them too and the visits help him to see how a small thing as taking Simba in can make a big difference for the residents.
“One of the smallest gifts you can give them can give them the biggest and brightest present they can ask for,” she said.
Katherine Woolford and Will McGuinness own French bulldog Elvis and Labrador-Staffordshire bull terrier cross Dolly.
The pets – named after musical icons Elvis Presley and Dolly Parton – recently made their debut visits to Clifton Lodge.
“Elvis likes it, he got on really well, and the residents are lovely, they all say hello,” said Katherine.
Dolly, who is more extrovert than Elvis, is also well behaved and immediately made friends with some residents who she kept returning to say hello.
Katherine’s mum, Sandie Woolford, an activities coordinator at Clifton Lodge, said: “We have several dogs that visit now – Frank, Simba, Elvis and Dolly.
“The residents look forward to their visits and are always asking when they will be in and who will be visiting.
“This is not just pet therapy but loving pets who engage with the residents to bring joy, excitement and smiles to lift morale and bring reminiscence to those who still remember.”
About EPUT
- EPUT has a vision to be the leading health and wellbeing service in the provision of mental health and community care: Who we are – Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
- EPUT provides services to more than 100,000 patients at any one time and our staff are focused on providing high quality care in often complex situations.
- The organisation has invested in inpatient facilities and community services to make them safer and more therapeutic. We have extensively invested in technology to keep patients safer, enhanced training, and are continuously working with our staff, patients, their families and carers to use learning and best practice to enhance our quality of care.
- While there is more to do, the Trust has made significant progress through innovation:
- Our 111 mental health crisis phone line ensures people in need can access support 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
- People with lived experience have been employed in designated roles across the Trust, ensuring patient voice is heart of the organisation and all that we do.
- A number of new initiatives have been launched, helping people access the support they need when they need it most. These include a mental health urgent care department, By Your Side maternal mental health service, Rough Sleeper team, mental health crisis ambulance cars, virtual wards and neuromodulation service.
- EPUT was formed on 1 April 2017 and provides community health, mental health and learning disability services across Essex, Luton and Bedfordshire and Suffolk. We employ more than 7,200 staff working across more than 200 sites.
- To read more about our priorities and commitments to deliver the highest quality and safest care possible, visit https://eput.nhs.uk/about-us/2023-2028-strategic-plan/