SCNC gets holiday visit from K & T Llamas
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By DAVID CAMPHOUSE
Submitted photo
It appears that this llama is leaning in to smooch SCNC resident Clarissa Comerford. Comerford is the mother of K & T Llamas owner Kris Allen. The llama visited SCNC last week.
Last week, residents at the Scott County Nursing Center (SCNC) got a surprise visit from a llama courtesy of Scott County’s K & T Llamas.
SCNC Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Isabella Llewellyn, in addition to being a medical professional, is also an experienced llama handler.
Llewellyn made the rounds with a real live llama at the assisted living facility, giving residents the opportunity to interact with and touch the animal.
According to SCNC Activity Director Donna Daniel, the llamas and the owner of K & T Llamas have a special connection to SCNC.
“Kris Allen, who has the llamas, her mother is actually a resident here,” Daniel said.
Daniel indicated that the llamas are widely enjoyed by SCNC residents, and their presence is a welcome day brightener at the facility.
“The residents love them, so she brings them out,” Daniel said.
Daniel added that the llamas have visited SCNC when the facility has hosted multigenerational events with children present.
“When we had our wiener roast here in the fall, the llamas were here for the kids,” Daniel said.
According to a study published by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), it is suggested that interaction with animals has beneficial behavioral and psychosocial impacts on residents in long-term care.
According to the same NIH study, the presence of animals can significantly impact the health and wellbeing of some care home residents.
Interacting with animals may offer long-term care residents a way to maintain a sense of self in care homes. Facilitating residents to interact with animals as part of person-centred care may also help residents to feel ‘at home’ in the care home.
K & T Llamas is located at 533 Phillips Ferry Road, Bluffs. For more information call 217-473-7283 or visit the company’s website at llamafun.net.
Submitted photo
CNA Isabella Lleyellyn holds the reins of a llama last week at the Scott County Nursing Center (SCNC) while SCNC resident Marie Hembrough admires and interacts with the animal. The llama was brought to SCNC by K & T Llamas, located just east of Oxville on Phillips Ferry Road.
