A new Brixworth care home resident has made friends with a budgie to help him settle into his new environment with ‘therapeutic’ care.
Robert Hasker, who became a full resident at
HC-One’s Pytchley Court care home in Brixworth in January, had been finding it difficult to adjust to care home life, after he moved in following a stay in hospital.
However, Home Manager Susan Watson intervened and arranged for Robert to have his very own budgie to keep him company, after Robert spoke with care home staff about his lifelong love of birds (and especially budgies).
This led ‘Fred’ the budgie to become Robert’s new best friend – and he is a firm favourite with other residents at the 37-bed residential, nursing and dementia care home.
Talking about the new inhabitants of Pytchley Court, Home Manager Susan said:
“We are delighted to have been able to help Robert settle into life here at Pytchley Court, with the aid of Fred of course!
Pets can be very therapeutic and have been a big part of Roberts life throughout his life, so bringing Fred in seemed a really positive way of helping Robert adapt to his new lifestyle.
Robert named Fred after his best friend, so he clearly means something very special to him. Both Robert and Fred are welcome members of the community, we have loved getting to meet them.”
Robert spent 40 years working on the railway in Wolverhampton, and was also in the Territorial Army, seeing combat action in the Falklands war. His great-grandfather Franklin Taylor played for Northampton Town before the First World War, and Robert continued the family link with the Cobblers by serving as a steward at the ground, where his son was also a matchday mascot.
Pytchley Court has a range of other pets living at the home as well as Fred, including a cat called Coco and a dog called Georgie. Residents are able to improve their mental health by keeping pets to support them and facilitate better social interaction.
After revealing his love for birds, Robert is now happy with his new friend in his new home. He said:
“I love the staff here and they make me feel wanted, everyone has made me feel very welcome”.