Care home resident, 92, surprised by pony visit

A care home resident with dementia was left overjoyed when she was surprised by a visit from a Shetland pony.

Jean Halls, 92, lives at Harleston House Care Home in Lowestoft, Suffolk, and was visited by Whizz from Pakefield Riding School.

It was part of the home's Dreams Come True initiative to help residents achieve goals and fulfil wishes.

Ms Hall's daughter, Nina Duncan, who lives in Norwich, said the care home team was "absolutely amazing".

"As soon as the Shetland pony arrived and she came through the side doors, and we had all gathered around, [my mother] opened her eyes and gave the biggest smile," Ms Duncan said.

"We put a carrot in her hand and that was it - she totally engaged with the pony. It was lovely to watch."

Ms Duncan said her mother could sometimes be disconnected from the world around her due to her dementia.

However, she had always had a love of animals and studied at the Northamptonshire Institute of Agriculture.

She also often rescued animals, including two ponies called Sammy and Zola, when the family lived in Lowestoft.

Her parents decided to sell their house to buy the one next door, but kept some of the land from their original house.

This was so they could move the ponies to the new house where her father built stables.

"So basically, they sold a house for the ponies," Ms Duncan added.

Harleston House Care Home is a not-for-profit home and was rated outstanding by the Care Quality Commission in 2021.

Ms Duncan praised the team for their work.

"The fact that they thought of this, just from having little chats with us finding out about what mum did," she said.

"It is an absolutely amazing care home because they engage with every single resident there.

"If I could nominate a care home of the year, it would be that one. It is fantastic."

Activities coordinator Gareth Harding, who founded the project eight years ago, explained it was about listening to the residents and making them feel good.

"Life can be challenging when living with dementia, not just for the individual but for the family as well," he added.

"So, it is about sharing those magical moments with loved ones and making new memories."

Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.