Horticultural Therapy
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Mike Van Beek and Brent Dusek
Horticultural Therapy and its Impact on the Elderly
Horticultural therapy is the practice of horticulture as therapy to improve human well-being. According to the American Horticultural Therapy Association, HT is defined as “a process utilizing plants and horticultural activities to improve social, educational, psychological and physical adjustment of persons thus improving their body, mind, and spirit.”
Alzheimer’s Disease - a degenerative brain disease of unknown cause that is the most common form of dementia, that usually starts in late middle age or in old age, that results in progressive memory loss, impaired thinking, disorientation, and changes in personality and mood
How does Horticultural Therapy help Alzheimer’s disease?
The natural environment is an effective way of assisting individuals and families during the intervening months or years. Why is this? Researchers believe that it is in the relationship to nature that deepest memory seems to be the most closely bonded. In addition to this statement is the fact that electrical brain activity data suggest that people were more wakefully relaxed during exposure to natural landscapes. Many preference studies have shown that more attracted to “savanna or park-like settings.” This study also states that those who are ill take refuge and security in enclosed and protected spaces.
Benefits of Horticultural Therapy
- Horticultural therapy helps functional skills as well as helping patients cope with the aspects of aging.
- Horticultural therapy can help patients deal with loss and grief.
- It can help reassess skills and develop other skills. They may obtain a new hobby that they just through involvement. Those with a history of involvement may learn or relearn past gardening experience they have acquired in the past.
- It provides social support eliminates them from their isolated world in the home. Extended isolation is a strong factor in the decline of health.
- It is very beneficial to rehabilitation.
Elements to Think About
- Enclosing Wall: The walled or fenced space serves as a refuge for the person with Alzheimer’s disease. It provides a space for exercise, walking, gardening, and socializing.
- Water: This can be experienced on a wide variety of levels. A fountain for example is seen as aesthetically pleasing. It can be a mean of sensory stimulation as if an Alzheimer’s patient were to dip their hand into the cool liquid.
- Canopy (Tree or Trellis): Trees can provide an essential role in human survival. Trees can potentially offer food, refuge, and shade. Trees can also be used as a source of interest to the viewer because the leaves are often windswept.
- Mount or Hill: The hill plays a visual role and again the refuge role. This element must only be a slight change of grade.
- Gardening: Gardening can be a very fulfilling activity for the elderly. Tending plants can battle feelings of isolation by giving individuals the opportunity to play a more active part in the world around them. Being responsible for the care of plants can help residents feel more in control. Upon seeing the tangible results of there efforts and sharing these results with others residents feel a sense of pride and satisfaction in there work.
- Intergenerational Gardening: In conjunction with gardening, programs may be added to involve Elementary age children in the process. Gardening is an activity that both young and old can enjoy and thus can be used as a conduit for interaction between the two age groups. Working with plants provides meaningful and nurturing interation between elders and children. Residents are inclined to offer wisdom and advice during which children grow to understand and value senior citizens.
There is a great opportunity to enrich the lives of senior citizens through the the landscape
Sources
Horticultural Therapy and the Older Adult Population by Suzanne E. Wells, MS
www.growingcenter.org
