ISHS Acta Horticulturae 639: XXVI International Horticultural Congress: Expanding Roles for Horticulture in Improving Human Well-Being and Life Quality
FROM THE GARDEN TO THE TABLE: EVALUATION OF A DEMENTIA-SPECIFIC HT PROGRAM |
| Authors: | S.E. Jarrott, C. Gigliotti |
| Keywords: | horticultural therapy, activities, care giving, institutional care, Alzheimer¿s disease |
| Abstract:
Horticultural therapy is employed across the lifespan of individuals possessing varied physical, emotional, and psychological abilities. Implementation of HT programs in institutional dementia care programs is increasing but research remains limited. A challenge to care providers at such programs is implementing appropriate activities given participants’ wide range of impairments. Previous research indicates benefits of HT on activity and affect of persons with dementia attending an adult day service (ADS) program. The present study considers whether planting, cooking, or craft HT activities engender differential responses from ADS participants with dementia. Two trained HT students led alternating planting, cooking, and craft activities three times each week over a nine-week period with 5-10 ADS participants. Each participant was assessed for ability to complete the activities and benefits experienced. Most participants required some physical and/or verbal help with each activity, regardless of the category, although variability existed within each category. The most common benefits were: interaction, initiation, concentration, and activity completion. Special accommodations were rarely used, but activities were composed of steps requiring different abilities. Thus, individuals experienced success by performing at least one step in the activity. Preliminary analysis indicates that the categories of HT activities promote cognitive, psychosocial, and physical benefits equally. | |
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