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BABY BIRDS RECEIVE ENTHUSIASTIC RESPONSE

When visitors walk into Haven Health Center in Norwich, one of the first sounds they hear is birds chirping. Residents and staff were privileged to witness the drama of new life emerging this fall as a pair of finches decided to raise a family! Listening to their songs and watching the egg-laying activity uplifted the spirits of everyone—residents, staff, and visitors alike. Everyone loved watching the babies peer out at the world around them, and it was difficult to tell who was the more curious—the humans or the birds! Conversation centered on questions such as: What is the sex of the baby birds? Will they have babies, too? Where will we keep them? It seems everyone had an opinion, and daily discussions among residents who hadn’t conversed much before became a common occurrence.

Keeping pets in nursing homes is not a new idea, and many facilities have actually incorporated pets into their activity programs. Some of the earliest “pet therapy” programs were started informally, as visitors and staff brought their pets in for a short visit. The therapeutic effects were dramatic—residents became more alert and responsive, blood pressures dropped, loneliness and depression were eased, and challenging behaviors decreased. These findings led to a study, conducted by the Eden Alternative in New York in 1974, which found that loneliness and boredom account for much of the psychological suffering among nursing home residents. Plants, animals, and young children were introduced into the therapeutic recreation program to create fun and spontaneity, and residents responded positively to the new environment with its unexpected and unpredictable interactions.

Haven’s director of nursing reports an enormous change in the residents and staff as a result of the pet program, especially with the baby birds. She says, “The birds give people a sense of purpose, something to watch for and talk about. It takes the focus off the routine of living or working in a nursing home, with its problems and cares. There is more of a sense of fun and expectation, and everyone joins in the discussion about the babies. It has brought about a whole new level of interaction among residents, and between residents and staff, as well.” Since the original pair of zebra finches is sitting on another set of eggs, it sounds as if there will be plenty to see and talk about for “generations” to come!

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