Geriatric gardening

Do you have a family member or friend in a long-term care facility? If the facility does not yet offer opportunities for their residents to garden, take this opportunity to introduce gardening therapy to their residents. Here are just a few ideas from Peg and me. Volunteers, patients' families or a resident could approach the staff with one or more of these ideas, especially if you can offer to assist.

• Establish a small garden research library in the facility
• Allow for internet use for the identification of butterflies, insects, flowers, birds and gardening fauna
• Encourage friendships gained through gardening sites like Dave's Garden
• Plan and maintain garden space
• Promote contests, art shows and plant shows
• Create and maintain individual small 1-gallon topiaries
• Encourage the passive art of Bonsai
• Grow a portion of the resident's own food on a small scale
• Decorate the common areas with plants grown and maintained by the residents
• Build a green house and allow the residents to maintain the plants as much as possible
• Establish teams to take care of different areas of the garden
• Hold a Dave's Garden "Round-up" gathering at the facility!

It may be late afternoon on the clock of life, but there is plenty of time left to enjoy gardening. Photo copyright April Campbell	Life should not simply fall into disrepair; gardening can help keep a connection to the world. Photo copyright April Campbell	The rusted wire and the fading flower each have their own story and special beauty. So it is with the geriatric population. Photo copyright April Campbell

It is certainly probable that some of the residents would not want to garden and others would not be physically able to maintain one. If you have questions, need inspiration or are looking for a support group, visit the following forums on Dave's Garden: Accessible Gardening Discussion Forum and Caregivers Discussion Forum. (These are both open to subscribers only). Click here for information about becoming a subscribed member.

However, the energy of the results and the beauty of purpose should increase the health of most of the residents. There is something more than magical about gardening; it brings life out of darkness, reminds us that there is still incredible natural beauty in this world, connects us with the cycle of life and gives us a reason for being.

Long live gardening!

Model: H. Carl Fall 1993 Photo copyright April Campbell

Pertinent links:

Topiary: Art with Nature, Part 2~How To Do It Yourself byToni Leland

I'm a Garden Design Thief - And Proud of It! by Marna Towne

Shucky Beans, Granny Ninna and Aunt Bett by Sharon Brown

Life Filled With Stress? Find Peace in the Garden by Cathy M Wallace

Welcome to Peg's topiary living room by April Campbell

Iowa Roundup 2008--Portal to Plant Heaven by Larry Rettig

The Fall 2008 Florida-Alabama Round Up: Good food, friends and plants by Jacqueline Cross

Thank you for reading this article. Special thanks to the models: P.E. Potter and H. Carl. All photos are copyrighted by April Campbell.

Note: I am not an expert on geriatric care; please consult a professional.

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