Kraichgau llamas receive an enthusiastic welcome at the ASB nursing home Johann-Philipp-Bronner-Haus in Wiesloch enthusiastically.
(Mannheim/Wiesloch, 06.05.2022) The beautiful garden area of the ASB nursing home Johann-Philipp-Bronner-Haus in Wiesloch is well attended, with more than 40 senior citizens eagerly awaiting the Kraichgau llamas. The appearance of Ludwig, the llama, and Zorro, the small, black alpaca, brings a big smile to the faces of the residents. "Contact with such dear animals creates primal trust, it's almost a magical feeling," enthuses Melanie Freymüller-Eichhorn, the nursing service manager at the Johann Philipp Bronner House in Wiesloch, "the animals have a calming effect and simply make people happy," she says. People suffering from dementia in particular also benefit greatly from the visit and from the closeness to the animals. Because Ludwig and Zorro are deeply relaxed and patiently let themselves be stroked and touched. Even the employees melt away; so many selfies have not been taken here for a long time.
A welcome change!
"They can stay all day," says one resident. Another resident describes the visit as a welcome change. Julia Bühler, the director of the ASB nursing home in Wiesloch, explains how important it is to her and the ASB to offer the residents a "well-balanced daily program and many nice moments. This includes joint daily activities such as baking, handicrafts or cooking, but also visits or special events, such as the visit of Ludwig and Zorro. Especially during the corona pandemic between illness and isolation, it was often not easy to make this possible. All the more now all the people in the nursing home are happy about the visit of the dear and sweet animals.
Ludwig and Zorro also visit bedridden residents
At the side of Rebecca Albrecht of the Kraichgau llamas from Waibstadt, Ludwig and Zorro trot dutifully throughout the house, ride the elevator and also visit bedridden residents in their rooms. "Our animals are particularly well suited for this," says Rebecca Albrecht. The trained occupational therapist also offers animal-assisted therapies and has been making trips and visits with her llamas and alpacas for 10 years. Of her 31 animals, which she keeps on a farm near Waibstadt in Kraichgau, she reveals that Zorro and Ludwig are the calmest and friendliest fellows and are not afraid of people.
Llamas are not the first time to visit the ASB
The llamas already visited another ASB nursing home, Domizil am Leimbach in Sandhausen, at the beginning of the year. The cooperation with the facilities of ASB Mannheim/Rhine-Neckar Region is going very well and is to be continued.
The nursing home in Wiesloch, operated by ASB Mannheim/Rhein-Neckar, provides a total of 78 nursing places in small, familiar living areas. In addition, there are 14 residential units for assisted living as well as the offer of vacation, prevention and short-term care for people who only need care and support for a temporary period.
The ASB Mannheim/Rhine-Neckar Region operates five senior citizens' homes in the Heidelberg area as well as a senior citizens' advisory service and several offers for outpatient care services, day care and assisted living in Mannheim, Heidelberg and the Rhine-Neckar district. fek