Alpine Skilled Nursing residents, staff enjoy new chicken coop
Leader photos by Matt Belinson
Alpine Skilled Nursing Home has added a new chicken coop for residents, like Glen Sanders, to enjoy.
Amanda Millwood, wellness director for Lifetime Wellness, and Sanders pull eggs out of the center's new chicken coop.
The Wellness Department at Alpine Skilled Nursing Facility is bringing farm life to its residents.
As part of an ongoing mission to serve residents and offer unique, daily experiences to uplift spirts, Alpine Nursing Facility staff has built its very own chicken coop.
With four chickens, all named by residents, housed in the coop – Bobbie, Bailey, Roxanne, and Nugget – the project is already viewed as a great success.
Amanda Millwood, Wellness Director for Lifetime Wellness, said residents have embraced the responsibility of helping to care for the animals and appreciate the gesture by wellness staff.
“The residents love it because it gives them something to do and take care of,” Millwood said. “There will be days where they all sit by the window and just watch them. Sometimes, I bring them inside for residents to lift their spirits.”
Alpine staff and residents worked together to incubate the original eggs, with the current lot born around October.
Millwood said the plan is to stick with four chickens for now, but there could come a time when additions would be made.
In the coming months, Millwood is considering buying chicken orbs, an enclosed ball where the chickens can roam freely outdoors under the watchful eye of staff.
Alpine resident Glen Sanders acknowledges the chicken coop gives residents an activity to enjoy daily, while tending and caring for something that is fun and enjoyable. Sanders, who was also helpful in the creation of an outdoor garden last year that sits adjacent to the coop, smiled ear to ear as he shared why he’s grown fond of watching and caring for the chickens at Alpine.
“They’re really a whole lot of fun to take care of,” Sanders said. “Brings a lot of energy to everyone.”
The flower and vegetable garden lining the facility’s outdoor patio area features a growing mango tree along with peppers, cabbage, cantaloupes, jalapeños, cherry tomatoes, beefsteak tomatoes, bell peppers, sweet banana peppers, rosemary, basil, pansies, and petunias.
