Bria Moore and her mother Maggie pet a llama during Caressant Care Arthur’s Resident Fun Day.
Petting Zoo a highlight for Caressant Care Arthur’s Resident Fun Day
Resident-centred programming a hit with residents
Tuesday September 15, 2009 -- Camille Jensen
Caressant Care Arthur residents and their families were able to get a glimpse of animals ranging from the domestic to exotic during the home’s second annual Resident Fun Day.

The Arthur long-term care home brought in a large petting zoo for residents that included farm-yard favourites such as goats, sheep, llamas and a miniature donkey as well as animals from other parts of the world including a wallaby, an African porcupine and two miniature holy cows from India.

Activation co-ordinator Jennifer VanBeek, says the event was a hit among residents who appreciated seeing the variety of animals on display at the home.

“I think the best thing for me was just seeing the smiles on their faces with all the animals and how happy they were to have something completely out of the ordinary for them and on such a big scale,” she says.

The event is the second of its kind for the home, which held a similar petting zoo last year. VanBeek says that event brought in more families than any other program and was a favourite subject of conversation amongst residents, who asked when the home would be doing something similar again.

For this year’s event she says the home enhanced the day by ensuring the activities were resident focused.

“We really wanted them to feel like this day was about them,” explains VanBeek, who says last year they called the event a family fun day, which created confusion among some residents who thought they might not be able to attend unless they were with family.

This year, the home presented the plans for the day to the Caressant Care Arthur’s residents’ council and asked for resident feedback.

The residents input added several new twists to the day, such as bringing in a clown and buying helium balloons with animal decorations.

“The residents thought it would be nice to give those to the kids,” says VanBeek.

The day of fun also made the front page of the local paper, the Arthur Enterprise News, with a resident’s granddaughter and great granddaughter posing for the photo.

VanBeek adds the takeaway message from the Resident Fun Day is to find ways to create unique programming for residents.

“(It’s) always remembering what we can do for them to make that day special and memorable,” she says. “To have the wow factor for them at all times and in all programs, something that is really striking in their memories so they are talking about it for the next couple of days.”

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