A CAST of family pets have been providing some creature comforts for residents at a city nursing home.

Three Cliffs Care Home has recently started pet therapy sessions.

During the sessions, residents get to spend some time with furry animals such as rabbits and guinea pigs.

Manager Karen Woods described the pioneering scheme was "working wonders" with the people living at the home.

She said: "The pet therapy sessions have been going for around a month and they have been a great success.

"I have seen one particular lady who struggles with her movement use her arms to stroke one of the rabbits."

Mrs Woods, who took over the reins at Three Cliffs earlier this year, started the scheme last month as part of her aim to bring the outside world into the nursing home.

"It is often assumed that people come to a nursing home to die — but to me they very much come here to live," she added.

"I want to make sure the people here have a good quality of life and also bring the outside world in here.

"Not only does this help with their morale, but it also highlights to those who come here about the issues surrounding dementia."

So, at least once a week, Mrs Woods's daughter Lily, 20, brings in her pets for the residents of Three Cliffs in Cefn Bryn Lane, Penmaen, to have some cuddle time.

"To see how successful the scheme is you only have to look at the smiles on the faces of some of the residents," added Mrs Woods, who lives in Uplands, Swansea.

"It's real heart-warming stuff to see."

Following the success of the sessions, Mrs Woods said she hoped to bring more activities and guest appearances to her residents in the coming months.

Earlier this month she invited Swansea Lord Mayor Richard Lewis and wife Angela for a tour of the 52-bed facility, and she said they were happy to see some familiar faces.

She said: "With the lord mayor being from the area, he knew a lot of the people being looked after.

"He made sure he spent a good while speaking with everybody.

"The next plan is to extend the scheme to our sister home in April Court.

"And we also hope to have some people from the hunt on horseback here.

"Some people have said, 'isn't it a bit risky?' to do things like this.

"But sometimes you have to take risks in order to get things done."

ben.wright@swwmedia.co.uk