Llamas Bring Happiness to Nursing Home | National Geographic

Nursing home residents delight in their llama visitor. ➡ Subscribe: http://bit.ly/NatGeoSubscribe About National Geographic: National Geographic is the world's premium destination for science, exploration, and adventure. Through their world-class scientists, photographers, journalists, and filmmakers, Nat Geo gets you closer to the stories that matter and past the edge of what's possible. Get More National Geographic: Official Site: http://bit.ly/NatGeoOfficialSite Facebook: http://bit.ly/FBNatGeo Twitter: http://bit.ly/NatGeoTwitter Instagram: http://bit.ly/NatGeoInsta The first thing you see when driving up to the Life Center of Nashoba Valley, a nursing home in Massachusetts, is a pair of llamas. Around the country, homes like this are using animals—chickens and llamas as well as dogs and fish—in their therapy programs, brightening up their residents' days. Travis the llama is the star at Nashoba Valley, ambling through the hallways every few weeks and ""giving kisses."" The rest of his time is spent with the other llama, VJ, in a large pasture, where residents can return the animals' visits with their families or on their own. Animal-therapy programs are said to decrease agitation in many nursing home residents and to increase participation. The animals are sometimes able to bring the residents out of their shells in ways that previously seemed impossible. PRODUCER: Gabriella Garcia-Pardo Llamas Bring Happiness to Nursing Home | National Geographic    • Llamas Bring Happiness to Nursing Home | N...   National Geographic    / natgeo