Residents at Burns Apartments in North Cambridge were treated to a therapy horse session as a part of the management team’s ongoing efforts to bring creative and fun programming to the property’s senior population.
CHA Service Coordinator, Jennifer Chisholm, is based out of Burns Apartments and made arrangements for this special event beginning in July 2022. As part of her responsibilities as service coordinator at the property, Chisholm is tasked with organizing four engaging activities a month like this one. She has organized resident gatherings such as; paint parties, cloth wreath making, coffee hours, birthday celebrations, trivia games, and monthly congregate meals. CHA’s Service Coordinators work out of senior living sites to help lead resident support services each and every day on the front lines.
Idaho, a miniature therapy horse from Lifting Spirits Therapy Horses, made his rounds through the Burns Community Room offering affection to those who came to meet him. Idaho was rescued from out of state, and now visits folks from schools, nursing homes, girl scout meetings, and everywhere in between.
Idaho’s favorite foods are oatmeal cookies and popsicles.
“It was a great choice to bring this here, I’m very thankful to the staff,” said Burns Apartments resident, Geno Doe. “I had all the tenants laughing because the horse was so kind and I would call myself ‘The Horse Whisperer’. I hadn’t seen a horse up close like that in about 30 years, and certainly never that small and friendly.”
“I would highly recommend this experience to someone else.” said Doe.