Date: 11 December 2015

An Australian first, HenPower is being trialled in a number of Whiddon’s residential aged care homes across NSW. The creative ageing program, halfway through its trial period, sees residents nurturing hens and participating in social and creative activities based around hen keeping, as well as interacting with volunteers and the community. Find out more about HenPower at Whiddon

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Early indications of Whiddon’s research show that the practical aspects of hen keeping, combined with the pet-like bonds that have developed between residents and their hens, has had significant benefits to overall wellbeing. These include reducing apathy, depression and loneliness among residents as well as providing those with dementia a positive outlet for emotion and a simple way to connect with other people. Overall, HenPower is resulting in a greatly increased quality of life score for some residents.

Run by residents, staff and volunteers at Whiddon’s residential care homes, HenPower was first developed by UK organisation, Equal Arts, and has been running successfully in the UK for more than two years. Whiddon is the first provider to offer HenPower in Australia as part of its Creative Ageing program.