By Kristin Sullivan
Silverado-Aspen Park, a Salt Lake City assisted living community specializing in Alzeheimer’s and dementia care, has one very special resident: a baby kangaroo named Oscar who functions as a therapy pet for residents. Baby kangaroos are known to be good with people, explains Shannon Ingram, the director of marketing for Silverado Senior Living, and Oscar in particular likes to cuddle.
“The residents’ initial reaction to Oscar is sheer shock and delight,” Ingram says. “As he hops down the hallway, he always examines each resident, office and plant with the wonder and curiosity you would expect from a toddler. At first, there is something very unnatural about seeing a kangaroo roam free, especially one that is wearing a diaper.
“Our residents quickly get used to the sweet, soft baby kangaroo and get a big kick out of seeing the reactions of visitors to the community, especially the children who come to see Oscar,” she adds. “While it is impossible not to smile when they are near Oscar, for our residents with Alzheimer’s and dementia, the experience is so much more. Even the quietest people suddenly spring to life with curiosity and astonishment.”
The idea of kangaroos as therapy pets came about several years ago, when animal lover Noralyn Snow, the administrator for the Aspen Park community, noticed a sign for a kangaroo farm on her way to work. She stopped in to speak with the owner, and, after discovering how gentle baby kangaroos are, signed up to be a kangaroo foster mom on the spot.
“That was several years ago and now we’ve had six baby kangaroos,” Snow says. “We had no idea how loving and lovable they would be, but they are just like babies. They love to be cuddled and snuggled up in a blanket.”
The community keeps each kangaroo for 12 to 14 months, until it hits maturity, at which point it is usually given to a zoo or a breeder. Then, a new baby kangaroo is welcomed into the community.
Having a kangaroo on hand helps draw Alzeimer’s and dementia patients out of their shells, Ingram says. “Many residents had cats and dogs for most of their lives and now they see them every day at our communities,” she explains. “Rarely has a resident ever felt and interacted with a kangaroo until coming to Silverado. Baby kangaroos are so cuddly and just love to be held, perfect for an Alzheimer’s or dementia patient. Oscar isn’t discriminating or hesitant, he interacts with everyone equally. . . . He has a calming effect on residents, too.”
But Oscar doesn’t just help the residents. Oftentimes, it can be troubling for family members – particularly children – to visit a relative with Alzheimer’s or dementia. Oscar helps lighten the mood.
“The real reason we have the kangaroos is simple: to make people smile,” Snow says. “It works every day. The kangaroos are helpful in other ways too. For example, when families bring their kids to see Grandma or Grandpa, it can sometimes be scary for them. Yet the moment they see Oscar hop across the room, they are instantly captivated, put at ease, and their visit becomes much more memorable.”
Says Ingram, “It really is impossible to be angry or frightened while petting or holding a quiet, cuddly, sweet-tempered baby kangaroo. Other benefits (to residents) include mental and physical stimulation. Baby kangaroos are super soft. Their tails feel stiff, compact with muscle. People with Alzheimer’s and dementia can be stimulated by a variety of activities, but Oscar seems to always bring out the very best in everyone.”
For more information on Silverado Senior Living, please visit their website.
