Bishop’s Cleeve Care Home Residents Delighted by Unexpected Visit from Therapy Alpacas
13 September 2023
Bishop’s Cleeve Care Home had a surprise visit from two very cheerful furry friends this week. Cosmo and Nigel are Cotswold Vale Alpacas and they came into the care home to meet the Residents and staff team and give them a day to remember.
Wellbeing Coordinator, Beverley Morgan-Poland said, “These animals are especially trained as therapy pets and they are extremely gentle and patient. Therapy animals like Cosmo and Nigel help to stimulate emotional, sensory and social feelings in the elderly. They bring a lot of joy and can inspire us to recall childhood memories and we all really enjoyed feeding them and watching them eat and petting them.”
Beverley added, “There were so many smiles and lots of laughter and it’s just amazing how these animals can improve everyone’s mood and have such a positive impact on their wellbeing.”
Resident Angela Schofield, age 92, has been living at Bishop’s Cleeve for around 20 months and she volunteered to feed the alpacas. Angela said “Ooh they are incredibly hungry… look at them scoff the lot!”
Audrey Thorpe, age 94, was a little taken aback at first and she remarked “I didn’t know what was happening then this lovely furry fella came right close up, oh what a delight! Such a funny face, I enjoyed that a lot”
Isabel Vick, age 96, didn’t want Cosmo and Nigel to leave and she said “I want to keep one with me, they are so lovely to look at and so soft to touch.”
