The impact of horticultural program in long-term care services

The purpose of this research study was to develop strategies for running mobile one-to-one horticultural programs for older adults living in long term residential care and to explore the impacts of the program. Convenience sampling was used to recruit 7 resident participants who were over the age of 50 living in a long term care home. 3 recreational staff members, and one other support staff member were also recruited using convenience sampling at the same long term care home. Results indicated that resident’s participants 1) had past experience with horticultural activities 2) expressed benefits to accessibility to mobile horticultural activities 3) participated in at least one horticultural activities 4) evidence of ability to engage in horticultural activities 5) engagement in activity demonstrated physical, social, cognitive and emotional functioning 6) two of the residence that participated in a second session, participated for a longer duration the second time.