Member Article

Four-legged therapist Ted joins care home staff to bring comfort to residents with dementia

A London care home has welcomed a new four-legged therapist to its team, to help improve the wellbeing of residents with dementia.

Twelve-year-old Shi Tzu Ted, who enjoys food and naps in the sun, visits Manor Farm Care Home in East Ham, Newham, each week to encourage residents to get active and offer company that helps them to feel calm and relaxed.

Known for his snazzy collars and neckerchiefs Ted lets residents walk, cuddle, feed, and groom him in exchange for a good play and explore of the home’s garden.

Marta Gize-Uwake, Manager of the 79-bed Abbey Healthcare home (on East Ham High Street) said: “Ted loves interactions with people so he’s always excited to come to work with me in his new role as therapy dog.

“We’ve already seen a huge impact on the physical and mental health of our residents. He encourages those with limited mobility to walk around with him.

“Dementia can cause people to feel anxious and he’s such a calming, reassuring presence. He even helps our residents to recall memories which both empowers them and gives them comfort.

“As soon as I bring him in the residents’ faces light up. They remember him and interacting with him even if they forget his name. I’ve heard him called ‘lovely’ and ‘lucky’ many times.”

The positive impact of therapy dogs is well known with research showing regular visits encourage communication and engagement and small activities like dog walking can reduce swelling, aid blood circulation, and increase overall strength.

Caius Wall, Wellbeing Activity Lead, said: “We’re all about person-centred care and therapy animals can make older people feel loved and accepted no matter what their age, abilities, or illness.

“Ted can be a listening ear for someone to confide in him and he offers unconditional and non-judgemental love back to everyone he meets.”

She added: “Ted is getting older himself and has arthritis in his paws, so I think he understands what it’s like to be getting older.

“Car rides on his way to work with Marta are his favourite thing, he likes nothing better than to feel the breeze in his hair then he jumps out and gets straight to work – I don’t think the home would be the same without him.”

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