Two Woolly Llamas amaze care home!

When it comes to animal therapy, dogs are by far the most popular, followed by cats.
In the late 1800s, Florence Nightingale, known as the founder of modern nursing,

had already observed that small pets helped reduce anxiety and improve recovery in
children and adults. A hundred years later, horses made their entrance through the
so-called equine-assisted therapy. But, what if people could enjoy the benefits of this
type of therapy through llamas?

That’s what residents and staff at RMBI Care Co. Home Cadogan Court, in Exeter,
have experienced recently. The care home welcomed Harry and George, two llamas
from Peak Hill Llamas, a Sidmouth-based company specialised in this sort of
encounters.

Accompanied by caretakers, the woolly four-legged couple toured around Cadogan
Court, where residents and staff had the opportunity to stroke and pet them. Those
who have visual impairments particularly enjoyed the visit, as they could experience
it through touch. “They’re so soft, calm and friendly!” said the residents with a smile.
Clare Walker, the Home Manager, says: “There was a lot of excited anticipation for
the visit from both the staff and the residents – and it couldn’t have gone any better!
We look forward to them coming back later in the year.”

The benefits of spending time with animals for older people are immense. Current
research has shown that having something to pet or touch can result in lower blood
pressure, normal heart rate and reduced stress. Pets provide emotional stability
during stressful situations, helping to reduce anxiety and depression.

RMBI Care Co. Home Cadogan Court is run by RMBI Care Co., part of the Masonic
Charitable Foundation. For more information, please visit: http://www.rmbi.org.uk/
For further information, please contact:
Gonzalo Mellado
Marketing Team
gonzalo.mellado@rmbi.care

About RMBI Care Co.
RMBI Care Co. provides residential care, nursing care and residential dementia
support to older Freemasons, their families and people in the wider community. We
have been caring for older people for over 180 years and today, we support over
1,000 residents across 17 care homes in England and Wales with a focus on
wellbeing and quality outcomes.

We treat each person as an individual. We believe that everyone should be able to
enjoy later life and we are here to help our residents stay as independent as
possible. Above all, we live by our values – kind, supportive and trusted.

RMBI Care Co. is part of the Masonic Charitable Foundation – Funded entirely
through the generosity of Freemasons, their friends and families, the Masonic
Charitable Foundation (MCF) builds better lives by encouraging opportunity,
promoting independence and improving wellbeing. For more information, please
visit: www.mcf.org.uk