|
August 2006 article in the series “Aging Gracefully …with a twist!”
“Plant Therapy grows on you”
As we age, we need all the help we can muster. We have pet therapy, aromatherapy, music therapy and
now…Horticultural Therapy, or “Plant Therapy”.
From earlier articles and my book, MAKING YOUR HOME
SENIOR-FRIENDLY, you know that I really enjoy the outdoors. Building rustic planters, tables and other items from bamboo and cedar has been a real love of mine.
We are influenced by our surroundings. As we age and our abilities change, we must preserve and protect the things that make us “alive” and energized. Surrounding ourselves with a positive, healthy lifespace is important; this includes colors, aromas and positive sounds.
Who would have thought that working in the garden would be good for us?
Plant therapy uses the act of working with plants, both inside and outside, living, silk or dried, just for the fun of it.
Things to consider-
- Interests of the resident(s)
- Physical and spatial limitations (keep it manageable, start small)
- Stay focused on the abilities and challenges of the
resident(s)
o Vision
To accommodate my Mom’s Macular Degeneration, I designed the views from various windows in the house to include plants with contrasting colors so as to enable her to enjoy them from the house.
(See photo)
o Mobility
If the resident is to tend the garden him/herself, their
endurance and ability to twist, turn and lift watering
containers should be assessed.
o Provides the accessibility and convenience enjoyed by many gardeners
o Also can be used for a small water feature with water plants
o They can be moved to accommodate sunlight and exposure to wind, etc. (Try placing the containers on platforms with rollers for easy maneuverability.)
- Raised beds (see photo)
o Raise plants in a raised garden! Elevated garden beds are handy, convenient and safe for everyone; especially when confined to a wheelchair or using a scooter. 24-30” height will make things a lot easier to tend. For accessibility, raised beds should be no wider than the arm’s length for pruning, tending and picking.
- Water features (see photo)
o Water gardens can be designed to accommodate wheelchairs by being raised.
o Water gardens in containers are also handy and effective.
- Paths should be solid and safe
o Avoid gravel and mulch because they are less “friendly” to wheelchair use.
Depending upon the grade, paths have been made from stone dust which, can produce a nice surface, when compacted. However, for wheelchairs and walkers, a more solid surface is preferred, such as concrete or macadam (driveway blacktop) Note: if there is a sufficient grade or hill on your path, be prepared for water to run down your pathway…causing washouts. Diverters are required to rid the path of the runoff.
o To get more enjoyment from the garden, inside or outside, try using lighting for evening hours. In our home, I use soft lighting on timers to light the indoor garden area and thereby extending the hours of enjoyment. Obviously, safety and security are factors to consider.
- Shade for the plants and the gardener
o Proper sunlight is important for both the gardener and the plants. Prolonged exposure to intense sun can be harmful to everyone! Allow for shade, natural or otherwise. I designed a sitting area with plants and umbrella for my Mom in the front of her home for her enjoyment as well as to be seen from passing neighbors, who stop by and say “Hi”.
o Automated watering devices can make gardening easier and more convenient; especially for gardeners with limitations. These come in various styles and prices. Some are merely water containers with a drip-feed type of device or configuration; while others use your garden hose with digital timer on it.
o In addition to beautifying the garden and container, using mulch can reduce the frequency of watering. Cedar mulch can discourage rodents and insects; good to use around the house and other wooden structures.
o Soil additives and special potting soil can also reduce watering by maintaining and “storing” the water, thus making life easier for you.
o Comfortable, ergonomically friendly handles and grips are helpful, especially for individuals with arthritis. Extended handles and hoses that are coiled can help reduce fatigue.
o Try using pulleys to raise and lower containers to water and tend them.
o Handles that are telescopic can enable you to reach further and safer while reducing the risk of injury by minimizing bending and reaching.
o Although our taste buds and other sensory abilities usually decline as we age, fragrance is an important part of life. Millions of dollars are spent to utilize our sense of smell. Aromatherapy has been used for centuries to enhance our wellness and enjoyment of our surroundings. As a proponent of a “sensory-supported lifespace”, I advocate incorporating aromas wherever possible….as often as possible. Therefore, don’t overlook choosing herbs and fragrant plants and flowers when you design your garden. My condo patio has roses, a citronella geranium and fragrant mock orange to compliment my water feature I fondly refer to as “Frog Hollow”.
Benefits of gardening can include:
- Working in gardens and containers can require load, or weight-bearing, which helps the body prevent osteoporosis.
- Endurance improvement
- Good exercise
- Balance
- Improving coordination
- Reducing blood pressure
- Socialization
- Fond memories from the past
- Interpersonal communication
- Diversions from health and medical discussions
- All the benefits from being outside (as applicable)
- Pain reduction
- Overall attitude and well-being
 In my travels, I came across a talented and compassionate Horticultural Therapist, Eva Chomicz. (see photo) Her business, Plant Therapy Solutions, LLC, concentrates on working with residents of retirement communities to enhance their enjoyment of life and add to their therapy. It was clear in my brief observation, that she adds a great deal to the community (McLean Health Center in Simsbury, CT) where I met her with her energy and creativity.
She tries to instill in all residents a “can-do”, positive attitude in all projects. By utilizing adaptive techniques, tools and devices they’re able to successfully accomplish their tasks.
Even if eyesight is a problem, Eva mentioned how the mental imagery and tactile exercise can enable a visually impaired individual to create really nice looking arrangements. It’s important to distinguish between looking at pretty flowers and creating an appealing garden or display. The therapy part comes into play when one actually creates the arrangement or garden.
In closing, the overall enjoyment of life is impacted by the way we feel, which in turn is influenced by our surroundings. The manner in which we interact with nature and natural things can contribute to the wellness and quality of life at all stages of our
life journey.
Strive to be happy and well!
Special thanks to Eva Chomicz, Plant Therapy Solutions, LLC
And the McLean Health Center, Simsbury, CT
Other sources of this article:
- National Wildlife, June/July 2006 Dorren Cubie,
“Gardening for Life” page 18-19
- “A Bloom in Their Cheeks”, Mary Beth Breckenride, The Hartford Courant July 4, 2006
Chuck Oakes is a freelance photographer, speaker and author. His articles have appeared in USA Today, the Wall St. Journal, the American Management Association, USA Disabled and others. His recent book,
Making Your Home Senior-Friendly, offers helpful tips to families and individuals who are
aging in place and is available through local retailers, Amazon.com and through
www.chuckoakes.com.
An avid fan of our American West, Chuck’s photographs of ghost towns and historic railroads have been in malls, restaurants, in exhibits and in travel articles.
“Catch the Spirit” tours take travelers in 2007 on three bus tours of our historic West to destinations that capture the spirit of the Old West.
return to
my website
|