Horticulture activity for Long Term Care residents

Abstract

Background Information: Long term care residents are mostly suffered from physical and / or mental disabilities who have limited physical activity. In order to provide recreation activity for them, at the same time provide an opportunity for the residents to be close to the nature, horticulture activity was implemented. This activity was lasted for 12 months and around 20 residents joined the activity. Aims: Increase social activity and sense of belonging Content: A little garden corner with different kinds of little water plants were arranged. Little water plants were preferred because they required simpler and easier way to manage. The plants were donated by nurses who were working in the care setting and by visitors in the later time. Residents were invited to assist in all kind of work in gardening including watering and removal of yellow leaves, every day after breakfast. Different kind of work was allocated to different residents according to their capacities. Name-plant system was applied. They would work together on a table. Results: The horticulture activity became part of the daily activity of the residents. They would take the initiative in gardening right after breakfast even without the present of the nurse. Some residents woke up earlier than previous time in order to prepare for the gardening. The residents had increased social contact with each other and with visitors through the activity. Conclusions and Implications: Horticulture activity is not only a recreation activity for long term care residents but also a therapy for them. A therapy which would not only increase social contact and sense of belong but also increase communication and well-being. It was suggested to widely adopted horticulture therapy for long term care residents and to conduct future research to identify evidence based therapeutic effects.