Getting up close and personal to a collection of rescued owls brought smiles to the faces of elderly clients of Westmorland Homecare.
Owls including Elmo, a 23-year-old Bengali owl, and Star and Thor, both Little Owls, delighted those attending one of Westmorland Homecare’s social events, held at the Beck Community Centre at Kendal.
The owls came from The Owl Sanctuary at Barrow, which has a range of hand-reared and rescued owls, which are no longer able to survive in the wild due to captive breeding or injury.
About 15 of Westmorland Homecare’s clients, whose ages ranged from 75 to 90 years old, were able to hold and stroke the owls. Some donned protective gloves so the owls could perch on their hands.
“Some of our clients are frail and very isolated. The social events give them social interaction and can help improve their mental well-being,” said Kelly Haygarth, Westmorland Homecare’s Care Co-ordinator.
“There were lots of smiling faces and fascination as they met the owls. A lot of our clients are animal lovers and it is very rare you get to be up close and personal with an owl.”
Paul Rose founded The Owl Sanctuary, a charity which goes out and about displaying its owls to schools, clubs, societies and care homes. It also visits the Alzheimer’s Ward at Furness General Hospital. One of the aims of the displays is to educate people about owls.
“Since the Harry Potter films came out a lot of people went and bought owls,” said Mr Rose. “But owls are not active birds. They don’t like flying and expending energy. They fly to get away from something for safety reasons or for food. Otherwise they just stand there and watch the world go by so people find they don’t want them anymore.”
He was at the Westmorland Homecare social event. “We had a fabulous afternoon,” he said. “We see the difference that petting an animal can do. It promotes calmness and well-being. It is lovely to see.”
Westmorland Homecare clients also enjoyed tea and home-made cakes at the social event.
Westmorland Homecare provides a range of services, which enable people to live independently in their own home. They include home care, such as help with housekeeping and meal preparation, and personal care, such as help with dressing, bathing and getting in and out of bed.
