Back to Basics: Health and Wellness Benefits of Gardening in Older Adults

Robson, James P.; Troutman-Jordan, Meredith

doi:10.1080/01924788.2015.1089709

Cited by 11 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…However, as this group of tenants largely experience social exclusion because of language difficulty and age, they constitute the major target population that could gain immensely from the social benefits of a CG. The literature highlights possible ways of making a CG age‐friendly through improved physical accessibility and cultural activities to foster social inclusion of the elderly and CALD groups,and how a bottom‐up approach informed by community development principles would be relevant in this endeavour. These include wheelchair‐accessible CGs near residential areas, use of raised beds and hanging baskets, multicultural social events and communication resources such as garden signs, fliers and information booklets in multiple languages.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, as this group of tenants largely experience social exclusion because of language difficulty and age, they constitute the major target population that could gain immensely from the social benefits of a CG. The literature highlights possible ways of making a CG age-friendly through improved physical accessibility and cultural activities to foster social inclusion of the elderly and CALD groups, 9,37,38 Ife's community development principles stated that deliberate inclusivity and diversity are indispensable tools in building a sense of belonging and autonomy in any community. 39 Another important design principle relating to deliberate inclusivity and diversity that emerged from this study is the suggestion for use of socio-cultural activities and shared areas to further promote social cohesion.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Sowing social inclusion for marginalised residents of a social housing development through a community garden

Mmako

Capetola

Henderson‐Wilson

2018

Health Prom J of Aust

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Issue addressed In addition to food, physical activity, mental health and environmental benefits, community gardens (CGs) provide opportunities for social inclusion and increased social capital. These are particularly important to the socially isolated residents of social housing developments (SHDs). This scoping study explored the feasibility of a CG program for tenants of SHD in inner eastern Melbourne by assessing their interest in, and requirements for, inclusively designed CGs. Methods In this phenomenological enquiry, focus group discussions, supported by photo‐elicitation, were employed. Three focus groups (N = 19) were conducted with self‐selected participants who consented to participate. Two focus groups were conducted with English‐speaking tenants while a third focus group was conducted with Mandarin‐speaking tenants. Results There was a demand for CGs by the English‐speaking participants driven by desire for networking, social connectedness and inclusion; for improved access to fresh produce, connection with nature, physical activity and mental well‐being. Participants expressed interest in a garden located near their SHD with supportive physical and social environments including disability access, plot autonomy, fencing, socio‐cultural events, training programs and management opportunities. However, the Mandarin‐speaking tenants maintained that age, language difficulty and neighbourhood insecurity posed significant barriers to their participation. Conclusion Guided by the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion, social inclusion and community development theories, the study recommends that to establish socially inclusive CGs, a dynamic relationship of the design principles of a CG and the socio‐ecological determinants of health should be established to address any barriers and successfully facilitate engagement. In addition, CG programs need to be guided by community development principles. Future research could employ community‐based participatory research models in the implementation and evaluation of a CG program for socially isolated population groups.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, as this group of tenants largely experience social exclusion because of language difficulty and age, they constitute the major target population that could gain immensely from the social benefits of a CG. The literature highlights possible ways of making a CG age-friendly through improved physical accessibility and cultural activities to foster social inclusion of the elderly and CALD groups, 9,37,38 Ife's community development principles stated that deliberate inclusivity and diversity are indispensable tools in building a sense of belonging and autonomy in any community. 39 Another important design principle relating to deliberate inclusivity and diversity that emerged from this study is the suggestion for use of socio-cultural activities and shared areas to further promote social cohesion.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sowing social inclusion for marginalised residents of a social housing development through a community garden

Mmako

Capetola

Henderson‐Wilson

2018

Health Prom J of Aust

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“…Indeed, gardening as therapy has been shown to promote a holistic form of wellbeing for older adults of diverse cultural backgrounds (Heliker et al ., 2001). Physical benefits include better-regulated circadian rhythms (Berman et al ., 2008), access to fresh fruits and vegetables (Sommerfeld et al ., 2010), and as a form of exercise and activity (Armstrong, 2000; Park et al ., 2009; Robson and Troutman-Jordan, 2015). There can be a wide range of exertion involved in gardening, from the more aerobic activities of digging, transplanting and weeding, to the fine motor skill activities of maintaining houseplants (Nicklett et al ., 2016).…”

Section: Creating Wellbeing Through Gardeningmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There can be a wide range of exertion involved in gardening, from the more aerobic activities of digging, transplanting and weeding, to the fine motor skill activities of maintaining houseplants (Nicklett et al ., 2016). As such, gardening has been shown to be beneficial for common health problems among older adults, such as hypertension, high cholesterol, arthritis, diabetes and kidney disease (Robson and Troutman-Jordan, 2015: 293–298), and can be considered a form of healthy ageing (van den Berg et al ., 2010). 2…”

Section: Creating Wellbeing Through Gardeningmentioning

confidence: 99%

Temporal aspects of wellbeing in later life: gardening among older African Americans in Detroit

Robbins

Seibel

2019

Ageing and Society

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Gardening has well-established physical, social and emotional benefits for older adults in varied circumstances. In Detroit, Michigan (United States of America), as in many cities, policy makers, funders, researchers, community organisations and residents regard gardening as a means of transforming bodies, persons, communities, cities and broader polities. We draw on ethnographic research conducted during one gardening season with 27 older African Americans in Detroit to foreground the social dimensions of wellbeing in later life and thus develop a more robust and nuanced understanding of gardening's benefits for older adults. Based on anthropological understandings of personhood and kinship, this article expands concepts of wellbeing to include social relations across multiple scales (individual, interpersonal, community, state) and temporalities (of the activity itself, experiences of ageing, city life). Even when performed alone, gardening fosters connections with the past, as gardeners are reminded of deceased loved ones through practices and the plants themselves, and with the future, through engagement with youth and community. Elucidating intimate connections and everyday activities of older African American long-term city residents counters anti-black discourses of ‘revitalisation’. An expansive concept of wellbeing has implications for understanding the generative potential of meaningful social relations in later life and the vitality contributed by older adults living in contexts of structural inequality.

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“…outdoor exercise such as walking). There is growing evidence to suggest that the natural environment improves physical and mental health in general (Bowler et al , 2010; Alcock et al , 2014; Cox et al , 2017) and for older people in particular (Robson and Troutman-Jordan, 2015; Wright and Wadsworth, 2014; Bragg and Atkins, 2016). Reported benefits include reduced heart rate and blood pressure, reduced cardiovascular and respiratory disease, reductions in stress and depression, improved confidence and mood and increased social interaction (McNair, 2012; De Rui et al , 2014; Robson and Troutman-Jordan, 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Connections with nature for people living with dementia

Evans

Barrett

Mapes

et al. 2019

WWOP

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Purpose The benefits of “green dementia care”, whereby people living with dementia are supported to connect with nature, are increasingly being recognised. Evidence suggests that these benefits span physical, emotional and social spheres and can make a significant contribution towards quality of life. However, care settings often present specific challenges to promoting such connections due to a range of factors including risk-averse cultures and environmental limitations. The purpose of this paper is to report on a project that aims to explore the opportunities, benefits, barriers and enablers to interaction with nature for people living with dementia in residential care and extra care housing schemes in the UK. Design/methodology/approach Data were gathered from 144 responses to an online survey by managers/staff of extra care housing schemes and care homes in the UK. In depth-case studies were carried out at three care homes and three extra care housing schemes, involving interviews with residents, staff and family carers. Findings A wide variety of nature-based activities were reported, both outdoor and indoor. Positive benefits reported included improved mood, higher levels of social interaction and increased motivation for residents, and greater job satisfaction for staff. The design and layout of indoor and outdoor spaces is key, in addition to staff who feel enabled to promote connections with nature. Research limitations/implications This paper is based on a relatively small research project in which the participants were self-selecting and therefore not necessarily representative. Practical implications The paper makes some key recommendations for good practice in green dementia care in extra care housing and care homes. Social implications Outdoor activities can promote social interaction for people living with dementia in care settings. The authors’ findings are relevant to the recent policy focus on social prescribing. Originality/value The paper makes some key recommendations for good practice in green dementia care in extra care housing and care homes.

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Back to Basics: Health and Wellness Benefits of Gardening in Older Adults

Cited by 11 publications

References 28 publications

Sowing social inclusion for marginalised residents of a social housing development through a community garden

Sowing social inclusion for marginalised residents of a social housing development through a community garden

Temporal aspects of wellbeing in later life: gardening among older African Americans in Detroit

Connections with nature for people living with dementia

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