Date: 5 January 2018

It was an Australian first when Whiddon began a 6 month trial of the HenPower program in December 2015, and a recent report detailing the results demonstrates significant benefits for the aged care residents who experienced the initiative.

HenPower is an evidence-based creative ageing program created by Equal Arts in the UK. It was designed so aged care residents could nurture hens and participate in social and creative activities based around hen keeping, as well as interact with volunteers and the community.

Equal Arts’ aim for the program was to “empower older people to build positive relationships through hen-keeping with improved wellbeing, reduced loneliness and reduced depression”.

They anticipated success in the program by working towards goals which included helping care settings embrace ‘living with care’ as opposed to ‘caring for’; supporting older people in care settings to get involved with community events; supporting committees within care settings to provide meaningful activities which embrace creative ageing.

Karn Nelson, Executive General Manager Strategy and Innovation, Whiddon, said in advance of the trial taking place: “Fostering close connections with the community and maintaining social interaction, interests and activities is absolutely essential to the wellbeing and health of older Australians. At Whiddon we have seen our clients’ quality of life improve significantly when we build in and create unique opportunities and social activities, such as HenPower, to their daily lives.”