"Residents of the long-term care facility are always gathered at the aviary to watch the birds. Residents say, "I's a good place", "I enjoy it." Staff says, "The aviary is a stimulant that is better than television for the residents because it is live", "They relate better to something that is visual", and "They love it, and they're just fascinated."
M. White, Activity Director
Woodland Village Health Care Center

"The residents love keeping up with what the birds are doing. Residents check on the birds before they go to bed, they want to make sure everything is all right. It has turned out to be a really good addition with the employees and the residents having both enjoyed bird watching. The birds are a hit!"
Keith Boyce, Executive Director
Life Care Center

"Bird watching is an activity everyone can enjoy. It has a calming effect on residents, especially those with Alzheimer's."
AL Assisted Living Prospectus

"The aviary is a blessing to its residents, many of whom have dementia or Alzheimer's disease. It allows them to hear nature sounds without being under close outdoor supervision. It breaks social barriers between them and visitors. It calms."
Tracy Boyd, Activity Director
Life Care Center

"For those taking daily exercise or needing some quiet reflective time, the birds and aviary also have become a sort of haven. One resident said, 'They make me feel good every day.' So much have the creatures delighted, that many residents who seldom step out of their rooms, have returned back to the dining room for meals and activities. We have had one resident who has been here several months and never came out of her room. One day when no one was in the dining area, the nursing home staff went in to get her and showed her the birds. The transformation of this woman has been wonderful. Since that time she has been back on her own three times and even brings her family in to see them. She was in her own little world and has really come out of it to the point where she is now having conversations with other residents."
Marjorie Stein, Administrator
Orangeburg Nursing Home

"I have residents who are center bound and can't go outside. This is like bringing the outdoors into them. You can see the birds up close. It's very therapeutic."
C. Cratt, Activity Director
Farmville Healthcare Center

"Purchasing our Creative Environments aviary has had such a positive impact on our facility and the residents who live at The Woodview that we are purchasing another one for the new Alzheimer's Special Care Unit that is being added on, and are purchasing another one for Meadowview Terrace that is now under construction. We have named on of the residential units in this new facility "Finch Lane" in honor of the finches who will reside in the aviary that will be the centerpiece for this unit."
Connie Zamora, Director of Long Term Care Services
Halifax Regional Health Systems

"The aviary has been a real hit. The residents will come up here every day to check on the birds. Visitors and children have taken an interest as well. The best reason to have an aviary in a nursing home? The residents' reaction to it."
Cathy Bradley, Activity Director
Newnan Health and Rehabilitation Center

"Bird aviaries are a must for every nursing home activities program. It has been proven to be one of our best investments for our everyday activities. We try to focus on activities that might benefit both alert and oriented as well as demented residents. Our bird aviary has proven to be very successful in this area. I highly recommend that each nursing home investigate the possibility of investing in a Creative Environments bird aviary."
Joyce Gammon, Activities Coordinator
Durham-Hensley Nursing Home

"It is with great pleasure I would recommend a Creative Environments aviary for any health care setting. We felt our Alzheimer's Disease Specialty Unit would greatly benefit from an aviary, but was unsure of the durability of an aviary for that type of patient. We not only found the aviary to be very durable, but our patients who can become very agitated were calmer when taken to the activity room where the aviary is located. The aviary is one of the best things we have done for our patients, their loved ones, and friends. Our patients spend hours watching the birds. Family members make a point of visiting the aviary, especially those who bring children with them. This gives everyone an activity to do together, when at times it may be otherwise awkward when visiting a loved one in a nursing home."
Janet Jones, Administrator
Erwin Health Care Center

"Our facility purchased a Creative Environments aviary and soon residents from all three wings were keeping a steady flow of traffic to watch the birds. Our facility saw how beneficial the birds were at getting residents out of their rooms to socialize. It also gave them something to care for. Residents who are less oriented will spend time watching them and talking to them. We decided to put one on each of the other two wings so that they could be enjoyed by even more residents. The results were that now we have groups of residents who travel around the facility daily to check on all the birds and along the way they are visiting with other residents. The aviaries have been an excellent addition to our facility."
Teresa Pitts, Activity Director
Henry County Nursing Home

"I just wanted to let you know how much we are enjoying our two aviaries. The residents never tire of hearing the birds sing, an staff and residents alike wait for the baby birds to hatch. I have had so many compliments on how attractive the aviaries are and how much they have enjoyed watching the birds. Thank you so much for your excellent service and advice on caring for our birds. I know I will continue to recommend Creative Environments to other nursing homes that wish to have the joyful sounds of birds in their facility."
Mary Kay Long, Administrator

"These small creatures give warmth to all in the building. We have noticed a difference in many of our residents. We opened a second facility and were so impressed with our first aviary that we purchased another for our new residents. We would like to thank Creative Environments for making this opportunity possible, so that we can give some extra warmth and happiness to the residents here at Dogwood Haven."
Brenda Pendergrass, Owner
Dogwood Haven

"It has been one year since our aviary arrived and the residents enjoy it as much today as they did on the first day. When we began looking for a bird aviary, one of our concerns was the cost. The fund-raising tools and ideas you provided us with have helped us raise money for the aviary. Fund-raising was easy when the families and visitors saw how much the residents enjoyed the birds. The aviary is great for marketing the facility not only do we show the birds to prospective residents but local Girl Scout Troops and child care center bring their children by to see them. I do recommend the aviary to other Long Term Care Facilities. It can only make a positive impact on the resident's lives."
Chad Hatfield, Administrator
Waddell Nursing Home

"I want to take time to let you know how much I appreciate working with you. It would be impossible for me to describe the joy and pleasure that the aviaries in our homes have brought to our residents, visitors, and staff. What a delight the birds are for our people. I am amazed that the residents in our health care area, the assisted living, and apartment areas have enjoyed them so much. Thank you for bringing such excitement into our homes. We look forward to adding more aviaries in the future."
Rev. A. Wray Tomlin, President/CEO
Methodist Home For The Aging

"Shannondale has acquired five aviaries from Creative Environments. Our residents are thoroughly enjoying these aviaries as they provide a gathering place in which the resident can watch the antics of the beautiful birds. We've received many wonderful comments from the residents and their families thanking us for providing these beautiful additions to our facilities. Creative Environments will also provide assistance with fund-raising to help pay for the aviaries. We at Shannondale strongly encourage every facility to consider installing aviaries for the enjoyment of their residents and highly recommend Creative Environments as the exceptional source of choice for these aviaries."
Mark S. Stoudenmire, VP/Administrator
Presbyterian Homes of Shannondale

"I am writing to tell you how much pleasure our two aviaries are bringing to our residents, families, and staff. They are by far the most popular feature in the Manor! The birds provide hours of entertainment as the residents and others enjoy watching them eat, splash in the bath, dive bomb our Activity Coordinator as she cleans up inside afterward, and most of all, lay eggs and raise the babies. We truly feel that the Methodist Manor has made a wise investment with our aviaries. They bring joy to everyone!"
Debe Thompson, Resident Services Director
Methodist Manor

"I just knew we had to have an aviary and then wondered how we could ever raise the money. However, the payment plan you worked out for us worked great and the rest was a piece of cake. The fund-raising was easy. The money came in with no problem. The families are so excited and grandchildren can't wait to bring Grandma or Grandpa down to see the birds and their babies. This makes the nursing home in which Grandma or Grandpa are an exciting place to visit instead of the usual idea children have of, "Do I have to go to a nursing home?" Thank you, thank you, thank you, for making this so easily available for the enjoyment of our special people."
Arlene Thompson, Activity Director
Life Care Center