Why Horticultural Therapy Benefits Seniors Living in Retirement Communities

Gardening programs for Seniors should be designed to meet the special needs of the specific Senior population you are working with. The physical, mental and emotional benefits of gardening activities may be slightly different when working with Memory Care residents compared to very able Independent Seniors. But gardening is beneficial for Seniors of all ages and ability levels.

Garden related activities and "enabled gardens" should be created so they are easily accessible to all. For example, raised garden beds, raised boxes, wall gardens, hanging plants and small individual containers can all be used in Garden Therapy programs. Wide paved paths are helpful for Seniors using wheel chairs and walkers.

Seniors with physical or cognitive limitations should be encouraged to actively participate in planning and caring for the garden or small container plants so they feel a greater sense of accomplishment and ownership. For Memory Care residents, hand over hand instruction is useful in helping the residents complete tasks independently.

Horticultural Therapy or Garden Therapy programs are unique in that they use living materials requiring nurturing and care. The natural life cycle of plants provides participants with plenty of horticultural tasks and activities that stimulate thought and exercise and encourages an awareness of the seasons and the environment. This is especially important for Memory Care participants.

Gardening with Senior Citizens in retirement facilities and communities is a very gratifying activity for all involved. A recent survey by the National Endowment for the Arts found that 63% of survey participants ages 65-74 and 53% of those ages 75-96 work with indoor plants or garden outdoors for pleasure. Another survey by the Roper Organization indicated that 33% of people 60 years or older are likely to say that gardening is an avid hobby or interest.

Garden Therapy classes help retirement housing providers and health care administrators provide Senior residents with meaningful activities that improve quality of life, provide sensory and visual stimulation, social involvement, and healthy exercise. As the Baby Boomer Generation ages, we anticipate the need for beneficial activities like horticultural therapy programs will continue to grow in demand.

Gardening with Seniors should be about getting dirty without feeling guilty, enjoying the results of a job well done and taking the time to soak up the sun and serenity that being in nature offers all of us.

Benefits of Garden Therapy include:

Improved Physical Functioning- Garden activities provide moderate exercise and builds fine motor skills by planting seeds or transplanting seedlings. Activities like digging and weeding improve gross motor skills.

Sensory Stimulation- Aging often involves loss or reduction of sensory capabilities so it becomes important to stimulate the senses that remain. Simple garden tasks improve hand-eye coordination and touching plants and smelling herbs and flowers can stimulate the senses and trigger happy memories from the past.

Improved Emotional Status- Garden projects and activities help build each participant's self esteem and confidence as they are encouraged to make decisions and think creatively when completing personal projects. Working with plants fosters a sense of nurturing and purpose and these tasks and projects can often provide structure and activities that alleviate depression and alter negative feelings.

Social Skills- Garden programs provide an excellent opportunity for participants to interact with group leaders and other participants through sharing materials and creative ideas, assisting others with tasks, and sharing stories and memories of previous gardening experiences with others.