WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. — To suggest the residents at Fellowship Community retirement community were having a good day on Friday afternoon may be an understatement.
More accurately, perhaps, it would be a “down under” statement.
Dozens of residents at the skilled nursing and personal care facility were indeed having a g’day during a visit from two baby kangaroos from Aldinger Farm, near Harrisburg.
The iconic animals that are native to Australia put smiles on the faces of the residents during an hour-long visit.
Ralphie and Ruby, each 7 months old, snuggled in pouches as they made their way from resident to resident throughout the dining room area.
“I’d seen a kangaroo at the Philadelphia Zoo, but it's much different holding one,” Gordon Scherer, 83, a 12-month resident from Lehighton, Carbon County, said as he held Ralphie.
“They’re cute.”
As a female resident cuddled Ruby, she grinned at the baby marsupial and said, “She’s smiling at me!”
The visit by the kangaroos was the latest such event at Fellowship Community, which over the past five years has been host to reindeer, alpacas, goats, baby cows, ducks, chickens and turkeys.
“It’s so much fun to see the smiles on people’s faces when we bring the baby kangaroos ... It makes them happy."Matt Aldinger, owner, Aldinger Farm
“It’s so much fun to see the smiles on people’s faces when we bring the baby kangaroos,” said Matt Aldinger, owner of the farm, which has 12 kangaroos as well as sheep and other domestic animals.
“People get to hold other animals, like dogs, but not many get to hold a kangaroo. It makes them happy.”
Pouchful of purpose
Aldinger fielded the residents' questions about the kangaroos, such as their diet (granola, apples, carrots, sliced wheat bread), how large they grow (males 6 feet tall, 200 pounds; females 4-5 feet tall, 75-to-100 pounds) and do all kangaroos have pouches (only females).
Studies show that bringing animals to retirement homes provides significant mental and emotional benefits to the residents — including reducing loneliness, stress and depression.
The visits also improve mood and provide a sense of purpose.
“One time, I was at a retirement community and sat on a couch with a baby kangaroo next to a resident,” Aldinger said. “The lady petted the kangaroo and began having a conversation with me.
“A nurse told me the lady hadn’t spoken in years until that day. This shows what these visits can do to help people.”
The visit by Ralphie and Ruby also put a smile on a non-resident.
Eli Nehme, 21/2, of Whitehall Township, who was visiting a family member at Fellowship Community, delighted in petting Ruby.
When asked if’d like to take Ruby home, he smiled and nodded.
No such luck. Ralphie and Ruby were on their way back to the farm.
Where, it was revealed, they’re ’roo-mates.”
