Gardening therapy for care centre residents

Elaine and Leung Ho with David Eatock and the planted parsley and pansies.

Some of the residents from the special dementia wing at Rand Aid’s Ron Smith Care Centre had their first taste of Horticultural Therapy on May 10. They watched with interest as tables were covered with plastic sheets and various gardening supplies were brought in for their use. Here was something new to enjoy!

Horticultural or Gardening Therapy is a relatively new humanistic approach and is based on the idea that there is a special connection between people and plants, between people and the gardening pursuit and between people and their natural surroundings. Therefore, Gardening Therapy is a process through which the plants, gardening activities and the innate closeness we all feel towards nature are used as a vehicle to bring certain therapeutic benefits to the participants. 

Rand Aid’s Debbie Christen, Manager: Recreational Programmes explains:  “Elaine and Leung Ho recently responded to our appeal for new volunteers to assist us with various occupational and recreational activities.  When we had our first chat, I was so excited to learn that Leung is a horticulturalist who has a Baccalaureus Technologiae in Horticulture from UNISA and that he has a special interest in using gardening activities for therapeutic purposes. I immediately thought it would be a perfect activity on River Lodge 3, our special wing for residents living with dementia.”

At the introductory session where care workers came to assist, Elaine and Leung started off with a sensory activity which involved residents rubbing lavender, mint and a special variety called apple mint, between their fingers and smelling the scent that was released. Next was the filling of pots with potting soil, planting parsley and pansies (for colour) and finally watering all the plants.

The session ended with instructions on how to continue caring for their new plants.   When practiced over time, these simple gardening tasks can provide sensory and memory stimulation and mild exercise, increase movement, improve orientation to reality, increase a sense of community and decrease feelings of loneliness and isolation.

This was a wonderful morning activity which the care workers enjoyed as well.  They will all be watching out for the pansies which should be flowering very soon! 

Salina Mtshali and Katrina Diedericks plant parsley.

Noel Tilney prepares her pots for planting.

Leung Ho and Eddie Carton.

Evelyn Shilubane, Mary Nkanza, Dawn Hazzard and friend.

Eddie Carton enjoys his Garden Therapy.

Evelyn Shilubane offers Jean Ive some lavender for her to smell. Lavender has a very soothing and calming effect.

Salina Mtshali and Katrina Diedericks.

Noel Tilney gives hers plants a drink of water.

Val Smith and Elaine Ho.

Water – and love – to ensure good growth.

The result of all the hard work.