Moving house can be stressful and emotional. Forcing you to part with your pet at the same time can be heartbreaking.
Yet, often this is the reality for people moving to a retirement village or rest home. But not at Enliven's Kowhaninui Home and Village and Abingdon Village in Wanganui.
Enliven believes
continuing contact with animals is integral to the wellbeing of older people.
"For many people, pets are part of their family and they have an incredibly strong bond with them. We don't want our residents to go through the heartbreak of losing their pet when they don't have to," says Enliven general manager Nicola Turner.
She says every day staff see the incredible influence animals have on people - both calming and energising.
"For some residents, sitting patting their cat is really calming, while for others it might encourage them to be more active - like collecting the eggs from the hens or taking the dog for a walk."
Most of the animal residents at Enliven homes and villages are cats and birds, although there is also the occasional dog that moves in with its owner.
"Obviously we take each situation on a case-by-case basis. We need to make sure that the pet is going to get on with other people and animals that also live at the home."
Pets also play a role in ensuring residents have meaningful activity and purpose in their lives, Nicola says.
"It's different for everyone, but often having a pet to look after gives people a positive focus. After all, wellbeing is about not only receiving care, but giving care too."
For more information about Enliven's philosophy, or for information about the services Enliven provides, call 0800 35 54 83 or visit www.enlivencentral.org.nz
