Rosie’s Trust collaborates with NI Chest Heart & Stroke to support families and their pets

Jayne McStay, Operations Manager at Rosie’s Trust, Linda Crooks with her beloved dog Olive, and Una McHugh, Communications Officer at NICHS.

Local charities, Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke (NICHS) and Rosie’s Trust, have announced a new collaboration that aims to ensure every member of the family gets the support they need after a chest, heart or stroke diagnosis – even four legged ones.

Founded in 2015, Rosie’s Trust is the only charity in Northern Ireland dedicated to supporting cancer patients, people receiving end of life care and older people with mobility issues to keep their companion pets by their side. With the help of over 200 volunteers, the charity assists with dog walking, feeding, grooming and vet visits, and also supports beneficiaries with fostering and rehoming, if requested.

NICHS and Rosie’s Trust have now joined forces, launching a six-month pilot programme in the South Eastern Trust area which extends Rosie’s Trust’s existing eligibility criteria to include anyone aged over 18 years old living with mobility issues resulting from a chest, heart or stroke condition. This means even more local people will have peace of mind knowing their pets are supported during rehabilitation, hospital stays or challenging periods of adjustment following a stroke, or cardiac or respiratory diagnosis.

Una McHugh, Communications Officer at NICHS, joins Jayne McStay, Operations Manager at Rosie’s Trust, with Olive at home.

Amy Coey, Service Improvement Lead at NICHS, explains; “At NICHS, we see every day how a chest, heart or stroke condition impacts the whole family, not just the individual affected — and pets are absolutely part of that family.”

“Our Family Support Service is available across Northern Ireland in all five trust areas. Our Care Services Co-ordinators are there for the whole family to provide emotional support and a listening ear, and refer to our other NICHS groups, programmes and services which provide information, advice and support with managing your condition, such as our PREP stroke rehab programme, Taking Control Programme or monthly ongoing Wellness Sessions. They also provide practical support and advice with things like benefits, communicating with healthcare professionals, and referring on to other relevant local support.”

“We’re delighted that our staff can now make referrals to Rosie's Trust for those affected by chest, heart and stroke conditions under the extended criteria in the South Eastern Trust, as well as under the existing Rosie’s Trust criteria in the Belfast, Northern and Southern Trusts. This will ensure fewer people have to face the added stress of being separated from their pet during an already difficult time. This collaboration means our Family Support Service can truly wrap around every aspect of someone’s life, helping them focus on recovery with peace of mind. ”

Allen and Linda Crooks with their beloved dog, Olive.

One person who knows first-hand how important pets can be after a stroke is Belfast woman, Linda Crooks. Linda experienced a life-changing stroke at the age of 62 and credits her dog, Olive, with playing a special role in her recovery.

Linda says; “After my stroke, I felt like my whole world had come to an end. I had to re-learn to walk and I couldn’t do anything with my left hand so needed help with things like washing and dressing. It impacted the whole family. One of the biggest things for me was the emotional effect. I felt like I couldn’t control my emotions, and I would have so many down days, and be snappy and cranky with my family. It was a very tough time.”

“The day Tracy from Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke first phoned me, I could barely speak to her as I was in floods of tears. She provided Family Support to me and my husband Allen, and referred me to NICHS’s stroke rehab programme, PREP (Post Stroke Rehab Exercise Programme), which was a turning point for me. Each week with a physio we’d do exercises which helped with movement in my arm and with flattening my hand, getting up and down out of the chair, and stepping up and down which has helped me with going up the stairs. Each week, I was finding I could do the exercises for longer. It really helped with my physical recovery.”

“When I was in hospital, getting home to Allen and my beloved English Sheepdog Olive gave me something to focus on. My goal was to be able to walk Olive again. With my crutch, I would go out with Allen and Olive every morning and join them walking. It was my way of keeping up my rehab at home and it really helped me improve my mobility and my confidence.”

Linda is delighted the new partnership between NICHS and Rosie’s Trust will help others like her recovering from a chest, heart or stroke condition. She says; “Thankfully, while I was in hospital, I could focus on getting better knowing Olive was being looked after by Allen. But for someone who doesn’t have family or friends to help them, it could mean more stress, pain and heartache if they have to worry that their pets aren’t being properly cared for, or worse, if they are forced to give them up. I’m so glad other stroke survivors will be able to focus on their recovery with their beloved pets by their side too.”

Jayne McStay, Operations Manager at Rosie’s Trust, added; “As Rosie’s Trust marks 10 years of caring for people by caring for their pets, we are looking forward to working with NICHS on this important pilot scheme in the coming months.

“Currently Rosie’s Trust supports cancer patients, those receiving end of life care, and people aged over 65 with mobility issues to keep their pets by their side. By trialling expanded support for anyone 18+ years old with a chest, heart or stroke diagnosis in the South Eastern Trust area, we hope to evidence the growing need for our services as the only charity in Northern Ireland providing this specialised support, 365 days a year.

“Thanks to our 200+ volunteers, and our new partnership with NICHS, we are continuing to reach some of the most vulnerable and isolated people in our community through their pets.”

To find out more about the work of Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke, to make a donation or to make a referral to their services, visit www.nichs.org.uk.