Getting chickens into nursing homes

[Mattemma]

I bet the elderly liked them.Well most probably. Every eldery person I sell to talks fondly about..."When I was a kid we had chickens..." sort of stuff.

 

[aoxa]

I bet the elderly liked them.Well most probably. Every eldery person I sell to talks fondly about..."When I was a kid we had chickens..." sort of stuff.

That's what I thought! I know some like them, but I have a hard time not being against the whole group next door when they are the reason I have to move.

 

[GardenerGal]

I'll bet it was the staff that complained, not the elderly folks. People in nursing homes are so isolated from the mainstream of life, that I'd think the sound of chickens would be comforting.

 

[pudellvr]

I am a supervisor in a Nursing Home. We have a facility dog and have therapy dogs come as well. I think a chicken would be fun but you would likely have difficulty with administration "buy-in".

 

[GardenerGal]

How could a nursing home admin not completely cave and give in when presented with a spotlessly clean, gentle, fluffy white silkie hen with a pink bow (and diaper)???

 

[donrae]

Don't go to the administrator, it may take forever to get an answer. Ask for the activities coordinator, this person should be familiar with what is allowed, and if they're not sure they would take it up with admin. They would also be your liason for times, who is appropriate to visit, etc. And I know it's tempting to go whole hog, but my advice is to start small. Take one bird, for a half hour or so. You don't want to get stressed trying to keep an eye on multiple animals, and you don't want your bird stressed from mutliple, possible inadvertently rough handling. Remember, old hands often have tremors or lack of feeling and can't tell how they are handling something.

When I worked a nursing home, we often had dogs visit, and one memorable occasion mini horses. No chickens I remember, but I know of some old ladies that would have loved a hen.

 

[un-named543]

Our nursing home allows my chickens and ducks to visit. I take towels with and set them and the bird on the resident's lap, then offer hand sanitizer afterward...
I don't use diapers, but on visitation days the fat old critters do have to miss supper, but then can pig out after their visit.
We've had a welsh pony walk down the halls and into rooms to visit residents. Most residents like the animals

 

[GardenerGal]

That's good advice, donrae. Thank you. About the supervision of elders because of tremors and other issues -- that's so true. When I worked with kids, I always had to instruct them on how to handle animals because they were just learning how to "feel" on many levels, including how to be gentle. With children, it's developmental but with elderly people it's usually medical in cause. In either case supervision is important.

un-named543. the hand sanitizer is a MUST! Thanks for bringing that up. I was gonna mention it too! Whenever the local kids come to visit my critters, I always bring out the hand sanitizer.

I read a story in the local paper about miniature horses visiting nursing homes, so if that's possible then a couple of small hens should be a breeze.

 

[aoxa]

I'll bet it was the staff that complained, not the elderly folks. People in nursing homes are so isolated from the mainstream of life, that I'd think the sound of chickens would be comforting.

I spoke with the owner, and he said the residents were worried about the smell that would happen come warm weather. Unless he was lying.. I know the owner wrote the letter of complaint, but he mentioned that the residents were the ones complaining to him.

I thought so too. I know there is this little old lady that enjoys watching them, because I can see her smiling at them. My father's boss's mother lives there and always tells her son how neat our silkies are. I think it's awful that a few people can ruin it for the rest. Complaints that do not even have grounds at this time. I could understand if they complained about noise. My roosters are noisy, but they said nothing about the sound. It was the 'possibility' of odour, and they thought they could get chicken diseases even if they did not have contact with them.

I have the letter somewhere.. It's all enraging though

 

[GardenerGal]

You have my sympathy. As to "smell," I have not visited a nursing home yet that didn't have the pervasive odors of toileting "issues," so I am inclined to believe that the owner is shoveling a load of "bull manure" himself.

I spoke with the owner, and he said the residents were worried about the smell that would happen come warm weather. Unless he was lying.. I know the owner wrote the letter of complaint, but he mentioned that the residents were the ones complaining to him.
I thought so too. I know there is this little old lady that enjoys watching them, because I can see her smiling at them. My father's boss's mother lives there and always tells her son how neat our silkies are. I think it's awful that a few people can ruin it for the rest. Complaints that do not even have grounds at this time. I could understand if they complained about noise. My roosters are noisy, but they said nothing about the sound. It was the 'possibility' of odour, and they thought they could get chicken diseases even if they did not have contact with them.
I have the letter somewhere.. It's all enraging though