The Value of a Gardening Service for the Frail Elderly and People With a Disability Living in the Community

Effects of horticultural therapy: Perspectives of frail and pre-frail older nursing home residents

AIM

The aim of the study was to explore the perceptions and experiences of a group of frail and/or pre-frail older nursing home residents in relation to horticultural therapy.

METHOD

A total of 22 frail/pre-frail residents were interviewed. A qualitative content analysis approach was adopted to interpret the data from four nursing homes.

RESULTS

Four main themes were identified: (a) "Horticultural therapy is an enjoyable activity and a good pastime in nursing home life"; (b) "Joining the programme made me happier"; (c) "Horticultural activities facilitated socialization among the residents"; and (4) "Not much mention was made of the programme by the staff outside the sessions."

CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATION FOR PRACTICE

The findings provide evidence of the positive effects of horticultural therapy on perceived well-being among frail nursing home residents and expand the existing state of knowledge on the use of horticultural therapy in long-term residential care. Among others nursing implications, they are also important to develop appropriate and meaningful nursing practice to improve frail residents' perceived quality of life in the institution they now call "home."

GROW: Green Organic Vegetable Gardens to Promote Older Adult Wellness: a Feasibility Study

Protecting older adult's cognitive health is a public health priority. Wellness behaviors within 6 domains have demonstrated effectiveness in protecting older adult's cognitive abilities. Interventions targeted to low-income older adults are needed because these populations experience greater social and physical health disparities compared to adults in higher socioeconomic statuses. This study examined the feasibility of engaging independent, community-dwelling older adults living in low-income senior housing in cultivating raised-bed gardens and reviewed the improvements in cognition and nutrition. Ten participants received ergonomic garden tools, seeds, waist-height garden beds, and weekly garden education. Participants planted vegetables of their choosing and tended to their garden beds for 17 weeks. Cognition and nutrition outcomes were measured before and after the intervention. Adults successfully engaged in the intervention throughout the duration and experienced improvement in cognitive and nutrition outcomes.