Belmore Lodge Residents Enjoy Visit from Friendly Alpacas

Residents at Belmore Lodge care home were treated to a special visit from two friendly alpacas, Alfie and Len, bringing joy, memories, and smiles to everyone at the home.

The idea came after a resident meeting revealed that several residents had fond memories of alpacas. Joyce had previously seen them at Sammy Millers Museum, while Anne had lived next door to alpacas in her own neighbourhood.

The team worked with Alpaca Adventure, a company that brings alpacas to care homes, to make the visit possible — even arranging for the alpacas to use lifts to visit residents in their rooms.

The visit coincided with the home’s “Tea and Togetherness” event, allowing residents and guests to enjoy the animals in a relaxed, social setting. Alfie, a grey alpaca, and Len, a chocolate brown alpaca, spent around 30 minutes in the lounge, receiving plenty of attention from residents and visitors alike.

Resident Jill commented, “They’re beautiful,” while Joyce said, “They’re bigger than I expected, but lovely.”

One of the most special moments came when the alpacas visited Ann in her room. Her face lit up as she stroked them and after they left, she said to her daughter, “Did that just happen—or was it a dream?”

Companionship Team Leader Sharon said, “It was wonderful to see the joy and memories the alpacas brought to our residents. Moments like this show how small experiences can make a big difference in people’s day.”