Bird Therapists

Model organizacyjny

After retirement, there is often a trap in which people feel themselves to be redundant and isolated from society. The lack of work responsibilities can reduce the sense of being active and useful.

The animal rehabilitation centre prepares to receive volunteers by adapting its activities to the needs of older people. The centre establishes contact with various institutions, such as care homes, senior citizens' homes, third-age universities, senior citizens' clubs or other groups for senior citizens. The next step is to work out the logistics of the project and create a team, where a key element may be hiring or appointing a coordinator, finding volunteers, engaging a psychologist and preparing a bird carer and/or behaviourist to work with seniors.A series of preparatory lectures on the psychology and biology of birds are held to interest and inspire the staff of the invited facility, using footage prepared by the creators of the initiative. Together with the involvement of a psychologist, individual and group goals are set. Each meeting and supervision is carried out according to the pre-prepared meeting scenarios included in the materials.At the end of the project, i.e. after the meetings have been carried out according to the designated scenarios, it is worth organising a final meeting, for example a bonfire, to share the impressions of both those participating and those leading the project.

Direct recipients:people 60+ living in nursing homes or in residential or 24-hour care facilities,disabled birds from the asylum.

Intermediate recipients:rehabilitators from social care homes, who receive new tools to work with their charges,animal rehabilitation centres, who gain regular volunteers in seniors.

Care homes, senior citizens' homes, third age university and other organisations or groups for senior citizens, animal rehabilitation centres.

Tak

The innovation is carried out by a team consisting of a minimum of three people with the following functions: a coordinating person who manages, obtains funds for the implementation of the activities, contacts the institutions, organisations or centres participating in the project, develops the logistics, engages the persons teaching biology, physiology, anatomy of birds, according to the scenarios,a psychologist, a caregiver of seniors  , who  is responsible for the therapeutic process of the seniors, cares for their comfort, needs, identifies and implements them,a behaviourist, a wildlife caregiver or  veterinarian who is responsible for the welfare of the birds and ensuring control over the process of establishing relationships between the seniors and the birds.

Cooperation between all the facilities involved, i.e. the Animal Rehabilitation Centre and partner senior institutions (nursing homes, third age universities, etc.),is smoothly implemented on many levels, such as the organisation of meetings, access and on-going care during activities at the centre,senior citizens caring for and engaging with the centre have a sense of security.  Ensuring high standards in handling animals is a priority in implementing an innovation that aims to treat all participants regardless of species, age, gender, beliefs, religion,etc.

Fundacja Albatros

Bukwałd

Generator Innowacji. Sieci Wsparcia 2 [2019-2023]