Proven Benefits & Associated Research

Benefits of Therapeutic Gardening

Emotional. Increased self-esteem through nurturing, self expression, creativity and meaningful activity.

Social. Shared interests and group/family activities offer opportunity for friendship and support.

Cognitive. Exercises attention span, memory, language and problem solving skills.

Physical. Gives mild to moderate exercise and motivates people to reach, bend and walk. People have pleasant sensory experiences in addition to enjoyment from using their hands.

Why Gardening for Individuals with Alzheimer's Disease?

1. The brain needs stimulation and challenge to maintain sharpness.
2. Sharpness increases opportunity for real communication and sustained function.
3. Real communication enables people to maintain relationships.

Associated Research

(Updated periodically)

1. Research suggests that the personalized attachment older people have to their gardens and immediate locality may have a nurturing role in enhancing their psychological well-being, place identity and memory recall.
2. Memory recall may become increasingly beneficial in confirming the individual’s sense of connection to the wider community.
3. Their local environment can provide sensory cues for memory recall ... which enrich older people’s thoughts and feelings and have positive effects on their well-being.

From: Jackson, S. (2005). "The Potential Doorstep: The Importance of Gardens in the Psychological Well-being of Older People." Journal of Therapeutic Horticulture, vol. XVI, 29-37.

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