Residents at a Wroughton care home found themselves sharing their afternoon with some rather unusual visitors when a collection of reptiles dropped in for a special encounter.
JJS Reptiles visited The Orchards Residential Home, giving residents and staff the chance to meet, stroke and, for the particularly brave, hold a selection of reptiles.
The visit provided an opportunity to get up close to animals that residents might not normally encounter, although there were mixed feelings when it came to getting hands-on with the snakes.
Some residents were happy to pick them up and have a closer look, while others decided that admiring the reptiles from a safe distance was quite close enough.
Several members of the care home team also faced their nerves and took the opportunity to hold the snakes.
Amanda, Home Manager at The Orchards, said the afternoon was certainly a change from the usual activities.
“It was certainly a little different from our usual afternoon!” she said.
“Some of our residents were incredibly brave and were straight in there wanting to stroke and hold the reptiles. Others took one look and decided they were quite happy just watching – which gave us all a good laugh.
“Our team got involved too and there were definitely a few people overcoming their nerves to hold a snake.”
The reptile visit forms part of the varied programme of activities and experiences arranged for residents at the Wroughton home.
Amanda said introducing new experiences was an important part of life at The Orchards.
“We love bringing different experiences into the home. It gives residents the opportunity to try something new, have fun and, sometimes, do something they perhaps never imagined they would do,” she said.
And while the snakes may not have won over everyone, they certainly provided an afternoon with plenty to talk about.
