When an animal shelter in Arizona needed some extra assistance taking care of newborn kittens, they turned to a local senior care facility for help.
“To some, it may seem peculiar at first: Residents who are in need of around-the-clock care themselves, given the task to care for these young kittens,” says Catalina Springs Memory Care Executive Director Sharon Mercer. “But there are skills, emotions, and needs that do not just leave a person with Dementia or Alzheimer’s. The desire to give love and receive love remains.”
Rebecca Hamilton, the health services director at Catalina Springs, created the program and in addition to taking care of the elders, she’s also a volunteer for foster kittens. She noticed that since she started caring for the cats, she felt happier and decided to try and recreate that emotionwith the seniors.
When first introduced to the elderly, both the condition of the lonely patients and the kittens seemed to improve.
The elders were asked to take care of two newborn cats, Peaches and Turtle, and since then, the cats have doubled in weight.
”The kittens have given us the opportunity to nurture this human condition that lies in each and every one of our residents,” said Mercer.
“The joy that the elderly get from bottle feeding, socializing, and cuddling needy newborns is immense – and the kittens feel grateful too,” she continued.
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[Featured Image Credit: Catalina Springs Memory Care]
The Elderly Volunteered To Help Orphaned Kittens In Most Adorable Pairing Ever is an article from: LifeDaily