Friendly alpacas bring joy to Prince George Duke of Kent Court residents

Above: Resident Vivien Wilson is delighted to meet Batman the alpaca at Prince George Duke of Kent Court, in Chislehurst.

Residents at Prince George Duke of Kent Court, in Chislehurst, have enjoyed a friendly visit from Batman and Levi, 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.

The alpacas, from Lower Bush Alpaca farm in Cuxton, Rochester, were led around the care home by their handlers and introduced to residents and staff. Resident Vivien Wilson, who was celebrating her birthday, was simply chuffed and said:

It was marvellous to have such a lovely surprise; not many people get to share their birthday with a pair of alpacas!

Also taking part in the activity, resident June Lyons said:

Meeting the alpacas has been one of the highlights of my year, along with the donkeys that visited us recently. I wish we could keep them in our garden and see them every day.

Resident June Lyons feeds Levi the alpaca during his visit to the care home in Chislehurst.

Diane Connor, one of the Activities Coordinators at Prince George Duke of Kent Court, said:

The alpacas’ visit brought much 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 meaningful experience for residents with visual problems.

Everyone who met the animals, both residents and staff, fell in love with them instantly.

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

[Summary: Residents at Prince George Duke of Kent Court, in Chislehurst, welcomed Batman and Levi, two alpacas that became very popular in the care home. The residents were delighted to meet the affectionate animals, who were happy to be petted and stroked.]