Animals bring joy to residents

FARMER Darryl Sheridan gets as much joy out of his petting zoo visits to Bendigo Health residential care nursing homes as the residents do.

That was made clear by the happy atmosphere when he recently made the trip from Kyneton for an interfacility day at Joan Pinder Nursing Home.

“I hope when I’m in care, someone brings animals to me,” he said.

“I love these visits because a lot of the residents are from farms It takes them back to younger times.”

Daryl said the obvious joy the animals bring the residents always makes it very difficult to leave at the end of the day.

Interfacility days and group activities are one of a number of things organised by Bendigo Health residential care facilities to engage residents.

Indoor lawn bowls, excursions and weekly shopping trips are all part of the activity calendar, which aims to provide variety of things for residents who are at different stages of their life.

Green thumb flourishes

CARSHALTON House resident John has allowed his green thumb to flourish since he moved in to the facility 16 months ago.

After showing a keen interest in gardening, staff at the home helped him create his own garden beds he can now show off.

“I saw an opportunity for a new gardening patch and asked management if I could project manage a new plot and they were keen,” he said.

“I love it, I think it’s great.”

John says the dedication he saw in those caring for him was one reason he was happy to stay in Bendigo.

Even having to get multiple medical issues treated in hospital left him feeling well looked after.

“The way I was looked after was sensational,” he said.

“It’s the same type of feeling you get at Carshalton House.

“Everything worked out for the best.”

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