Aging individuals benefit from hobbies that sharpen their senses as well as their bodies. Horticultural therapy, or therapeutic gardening, can provide many benefits for those who participate.
Cognitive
Therapeutic gardening keeps the participant’s mind sharp by:
- Encouraging the learning or re-learning of a skill
- Improving memory
- Initiating tasks
Social
Gardening activities provide a number of social benefits to aging individuals such as:
- Group gardening can reduce feelings of isolation and depression
- This is an ideal hobby to share with family members and friends
Physical
By engaging in horticultural activities, seniors experience:
- Strengthened muscles
- Improved balance
- Boosted endurance
Psychological
Psychological and emotional health are perhaps the most positively affected areas with horticultural therapy. Seniors develop:
- Improved confidence and self-worth
- Productive habits for relieving aggression and stress
- Excitement for the future
- Outlets for self-expression and creativity