CHESTER CARE HOME RESIDENTS WELCOME THERAPY DOG

Residents at New Care’s Grosvenor Manor Care Centre on Heath Lane in Chester have welcomed into the care home a friendly furry friend in the form of Meg, the therapy dog.

Proving a hit with all residents, Meg now visits the 81 bed care facility every two weeks with her owner Susan Caddell, who is from Chester, providing hours of fun.

Enhancing the health and wellbeing of the residents at Grosvenor Manor, Meg offers companionship and friendship, emotional comfort and stimulation.

From tricks in the communal lounges to visiting residents in their bedrooms, Meg puts a smile on all faces at Grosvenor Manor, with residents often asking when she is next coming in.

Lisa Forth, activities coordinator at Grosvenor Manor, says: “The residents really do look forward to Meg coming as her visit brightens up their day.  It is great to see the residents stroking Meg, playing fetch with her in the garden and giving her treats if she listens to instructions or does a trick for them.  Meg allows the residents to rediscover their nurturing self and reminisce on their childhood or adulthood when they perhaps had a dog of their own.”

Susan says: “Meg is very much a part of our family and is a busy and active dog.  She has represented our Flyball Club and Therapy Dogs Nationwide at Crufts, has her own passport and shares all of our hobbies, interests and holidays.  But perhaps her most endearing quality is her empathy with people, her “sixth sense” of knowing when she needs to be calm and gentle.  She loves to represent Therapy Dogs Nationwide at Grosvenor Manor and seems to know that when we put on our uniform, she has a job to do.  We are made so welcome at this lovely home that it is a real pleasure and an honour for us to visit.”

In addition to Meg, Susan is a retired French teacher and whilst she is at Grosvenor Manor with Meg, has started teaching some residents the language, starting off with basic French, food and numbers, incorporating French bingo.

Lisa adds: “We are committed to delivering purposeful and meaningful activities at Grosvenor Manor which enhance the quality of life of the residents.  When we discovered that Sue was a retired French teacher, we immediately asked her if she would teach the residents French.

“It is such a great day when Meg and Sue come to Grosvenor Manor.  The residents have big smiles on their faces when Meg is around and then for days after we hear ‘merci’ and ‘s’il vous plait’ and ‘bonjour’ which is just wonderful. Their regular visits lift the mood of the residents and are so rewarding.”

Open for almost 12 months, Grosvenor Manor is a stunning state-of-the-art 81 bed care facility in Chester offering exceptional residential, nursing and dementia care services.

Part of New Care, one of the UK’s fastest growing development-led care home operators, Grosvenor Manor caters for the aspiring needs of its residents, providing high quality, person-centred care in an expertly designed purpose-built environment.

In addition to communal lounges, formal dining rooms and gardens, residents enjoy the privacy of their own well appointed and restful bedroom, complete with en suite wet rooms, and a host of hotel-style services including fine dining, a hair salon and nail bar.