Friendly alpacas bring joy to residents at Connaught Court

Residents at Connaught Court, in York, have recently enjoyed a friendly visit from Sandstorm and Sunny, two alpacas that soon became very popular in the care home. The residents were delighted to meet the affectionate animals, who were happy to be petted and stroked.

Anna and Chris Ramsey from Butterwick Alpaca Retreat, based in Malton, led the alpacas around and introduced them to the residents.

Taking part in this activity, resident Doris Joy said:

They are so nice and well behaved. One of them ate out of my hand!

Fran Tagg, one of the Activities Coordinator at Connaught Court, said:

The alpacas brought joy to our residents, which is fantastic for their mental health and wellbeing. Also, they were able to get very close and feel the alpacas’ breath and touch their shaggy hair, and this was a particularly joyful experience for residents with visual problems. Everyone who met the animals, both residents and staff, fell in love with them.

The Home welcomes animals for therapeutic purposes, as they not only bring joy and a sense of calm to the residents, but also benefit their mental health and wellbeing by boosting their activity levels, reducing stress and combating loneliness.

[Summary: Residents at Connaught Court, in York, enjoyed a friendly visit from two alpacas, Sandstorm and Sunny.]