RESIDENTS GET A ‘KICK’ OUT OF DONKEY VISIT

Rescue donkey Willow captured hearts when he dropped into meet residents at Acacia nursing home in Yeovil.

Accompanied by his handlers, the former show donkey travelled to the Hendford Hill home run by care provider Camelot Care from the Donkey Sanctuary at Sidmouth.

Percy West was just one of Acacia’s residents who enjoyed a close encounter with 16-year- old Willow who is being cared for by the world-renowned charity.

Dannielle Whitehouse, Acacia’s activities co-ordinator, said: “The donkey came round to the residents in the communal lounges.

“Residents were smiling and most of them really enjoyed meeting and stroking the donkey, and asking questions of the Donkey Sanctuary staff.

“The Donkey Sanctuary has visited us in previous years but this was the first time they have come to see us this year.

“We enjoy bringing all different types of animals, from donkeys to birds of prey, to visit our residents, who usually talk about the visits for some time afterwards.”

The visit from the Donkey Sanctuary was just part of a busy activities programme Camelot Care provides at Acacia Nursing Home.

Camelot has 15 years’ experience providing top-quality nursing and dementia care to the elderly, with other homes in Wellington and Bridgwater, in Somerset, and Plymouth, in Devon.