Kidding around
Brookdale Hearthstone resident Rita Gordon holds a five-month-old baby goat as it suckles a bottle. The animals paid a short visit to the facility on Friday as part of an effort by Administrator Joe Ketterer, who also raises goats, to help residents become more engaged and active.
Charles H. Featherstone
Brookdale Hearthstone Administrator Joe Ketterer’s sons Carter, left, and Hunter, follow their goats Mr. Speedy and Little Miss Lovebug around one of the rear yards at the assisted living facility.
MOSES LAKE — It’s been a long time since Ken Gregory has seen a goat.
“When I was 10 years old, we always had 15 or 20 goats,” said Gregory, 93, and a resident of Brookdale Hearthstone Assisted Living in Moses Lake. “It was out in the middle of nowhere, we had an acre or two, but it was hardly a farm for us. But we raised goats and rabbits.”
As Gregory spoke, a small tan goat hopped around, licking hands and looking for whoever has a bottle. There were two goats at Brookdale Hearthstone last Friday morning, both five months old and denizens of Brookdale Hearthstone Administrator Joe Ketterer’s farm. They’re here because Ketterer believes animals are an important way to help keep Brookdale Hearthstone’s residents connected to each other and to the world.
“It’s really been an additional push this year after all the … call it cabin fever, to really get residents engaged, out of their rooms, and socializing,” he said. “A whole healthy mind, healthy body mentality is definitely something we push here.”
In addition to the animals — it was goats on Friday, and puppies in the near future — Ketterer said the facility also arranges excursions and trips to nearby casinos, the city’s Japanese Garden and even the rodeo. The goal is to help senior citizens who have been injured or who cannot easily care for themselves whether because of illness or recent hospitalization to have a safe and caring place to improve and even thrive, he said.
“It’s been a joy for all of us. That’s why we’re here,” Ketterer explained.
Meanwhile, the goats — which Ketterer referred to as Mr. Speedy and Little Miss Lovebug — emptied the bottles quickly, with one goat lying in Rita Gordon’s lap as it suckled.
“Oh, I love it!” said Gordon, 84. “I lived on a farm for many years.”
Charles H. Featherstone can be reached at cfeatherstone@columbiabasinherald.com
