Staff at Carpenders Park Care Home near Watford recently surprised resident Sylvia with a visit from Brenda the barn owl, as part of the home’s ‘Make a Wish’ initiative.
The initiative, run by Country Court, focuses on creating meaningful experiences that reflect each resident’s interests and life story. Whether it’s a special outing, celebrating a milestone, or arranging something more personal, the team takes time to understand what matters most to each individual.
Heather Reid, Wellbeing Coordinator, commented on the day.
“Sylvia has always loved owls, so we wanted to do something she’d never expect. When we told her, she said, ‘There’s not an owl in the building, is there?’
I kept it a secret until the last moment – I knew she’d be too excited to sleep if she’d found out earlier.”
“She’s always loved owls – you should have seen our home!”
During the visit, Sylvia spent time up close with Brenda, gently stroking her feathers and encouraging her to open her wings, calling her “Beautiful Brenda” throughout. Kelly from Performing Pets also shared interesting facts about owls, including how to tell their gender, the sounds they make, and how long they typically live.
The experience was made even more special by the presence of Sylvia’s family, including her husband Roy, granddaughter Ellie, son Gavin, daughter-in-law Anita, and Anita’s mother, Jeannie.
“Well, who would’ve thought.”
“It was a really special day and a great reminder of how important it is to create moments like this for our residents.”
To find out more about life at Carpenders Park Care Home or to arrange a visit, please call 01923 982 260 or email carpenderspark@countrycourtcare.com
