Keeping Hens and using them as a means to cultivate creativity for patients in Day Hospice and Day Care will combat loneliness, depression as well as improving wellbeing.  With loneliness said to be as damaging to our health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day (Holt-Lunstad 2010) HenPower helps vulnerable older people gain a sense of purpose and being part of something worthwhile.

By becoming a HenPower project Alice House Hospice will get support and advice on how to use hen-keeping to engage patients and their carers if they wish, in a weekly creative programme led by artists.

The Holistic Wellbeing Centre at Alice House Hospice was host to a Hen Roadshow in May this year when  a number of ‘Hensioners’ and their hens from other care homes came along and met lots of patients, volunteers, supporters, trustees and staff.

Rebecca Jobson, Senior Manager Fundraising said

“The hens stole the show and it was amazing to meet other people who already look after hens in their care setting and to see the visible benefits that the hens have had on their wellbeing”.

So, on Thursday 5th October, staff, patients and volunteers welcomed four beautiful hens to Alice House.

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Chief Executive Tracy Woodall,

“It is lovely welcoming our first four hens and lots of staff and volunteers have come forward to help look after them.  Our aim is to support our patients to be aspirational and hope that we can not only use the hens to create a wonderful variety of activities for them but use them as way of developing relationship with the younger community through junior and high schools.  The Hens have been given names by the patients and we would like to welcome Henny Penny, Paxo, Martha and Tufty-Belle to the Hospice Team. ”