Simply referred to as “Dirt Therapy,” gardening activities at the Silverado Senior Living community in Plano, TX have become among the most popular resident engagement activities to date. In fact, you’d be hard-pressed to find a planter box in the outside courtyard that wasn’t already filled with beautiful flowers or seasonal vegies. All planted by the community residents.
Residents play an active role in the planning and upkeep of their gardens and the responsibility allows them to develop a strong sense of pride and purpose as their plants begin to grow.
The gardening activities prove useful as a source of sensory stimulation. At times, residents in more advanced stages of memory decline may require hand-over-hand guidance, while others prefer to just dig in. Yet regardless of their cognitive or physical abilities, all participants have the opportunity to experience the sights, sounds, smells, and feel of their natural environment.
Gardening activities also provides a lot of other benefits. For example, it is a good form of low-impact exercise that encourages residents to participate, despite the limitations in mobility that some may have. Being outdoors also offers a good source of vitamin D, which in turn improves sleeping patterns and diminishes behavioral challenges. Silverado’s gardening programs also encourage communication by creating a social environment in which residents interact with their group and share tools and materials amongst each other.
“They get so excited when they are a part of something they enjoy. It is extremely rewarding to see them full of life and interacting in ways that encourage nurture and engagement,” concludes Tomika Moore, Resident Engagement Director for Silverado Senior Living – Plano.
