The furry visitors Cygnet residents look forward to every Easter

Every Easter, the Swan Valley Animal Farm arrives at Cygnet, Juniper’s dementia-specific residential home. Baby guinea pigs, rabbits, and a handful of other small animals come through the doors, and for Personal Care and Activities Assistant Helen Davidson, it’s a visit she looks forward to every year.

“The reason I bring it in is because of how well they resonate with the animals,” she said. “They respond so well.”

For Residential Manager Kapsy Mante, the visit is part of how the team creatively engages residents, and a chance to offer something a little different. “The feedback was really positive. The residents were enjoying themselves and eager to hold some of the animals,” she said.

For some residents, it brought out something the staff don’t often get to see. Helen watched as some of the women wrapped the baby guinea pigs in cloth and held them close. “They were talking to them like babies. It was lovely to watch,” she said.

Kapsy said the visit connected residents to memories they hadn’t thought about in a while. “The activity brought back memories of animals they may have looked after, or even had as pets.”

Some residents who grew up in rural areas found the visit funny for different reasons. “They were laughing about how they used to have rabbit stew rather than caring for them like pets,” Helen said. “It brought back all sorts of memories.”

For Helen, those moments of connection and engagement are exactly why she feels strongly about changing how people think about dementia.

“People misunderstand dementia. Having that variety of activities shows that they do respond, and they do talk. Even if they engage for a short time, you can see there are things they can still do.”

“We need to take that stigma away. Having dementia, or reaching a certain age, doesn’t mean your life stops.”

It’s something she understands personally, having placed her own mother in aged care. “At home they may not respond the same way. But in this environment, with the right activity, you see a different side of them.”

The team is already thinking about what to bring in next. “One day we’d love to get horses in,” Helen said.