A FURRY friend has been helping care home residents with dementia by providing company and cuddles. Oscar the PAT dog and his owner Paula Gascoigne have paid a visit to Waverley Lodge Care Home, in Lemington, Newcastle. Paula, who is from Dumpling Hall, Newcastle, is a volunteer with North East based friendship dog charity, Wag and Company.
They enable visiting dog teams to build meaningful new friendships with older dog lovers.
Friendship dog Oscar has been helping care home residents with dementia by providing company and cuddles at Waverley Lodge care home.
Michelle Park, activities coordinator at Waverley Lodge Care Home, on Bewick Crescent, said: “Our residents loved seeing Oscar and the smiles on their faces just said it all.
“We are so grateful to Paula and Oscar for visiting and we hope to see them again soon.”
PAT (Pets in Therapy) dogs provide companionship and friendship to help tackle loneliness. They also support those with mental and physical health conditions such as autism, dementia and strokes as part of their therapeutic treatment.
You can find out more about volunteering with your pet at www.petsastherapy.org.
Photo captions: Waverley Lodge Care Home resident Peggy Harwood meets PAT dog Oscar and his owner Paula Gascoigne.
Waverley Lodge Care Home is part of the Hill Care Group. For further information visit www.hillcare.net.
Wag & Company is a registered charity enabling visiting dog teams to build meaningful new friendships with older dog lovers across the North East of England. For further information visit www.wagandcompany.co.uk.
