Exploring Social Therapy, Horticulture for Seniors’ Wellness

Yinka Olatunbosun

Tucked in a serene side of Mende, Maryland Lagos, the Elderly Care Home was turned into a mini-party zone recently as the residents, families and caregivers gathered for the launch of the new garden. A medley of classic music was on the replay as the caregivers brought out well-dressed seniors- a few of them on wheelchairs.

The occasion was the climax of the Bloom Social Therapeutic Horticulture (STH) Project curated to enhance the well-being of older people. First established in December 2023, the therapeutic garden is an evidence-based design project which helps to improve brain health and other underlying health conditions. At the same time, the therapy caters to the caregivers as it creates a relaxing atmosphere for interaction with nature.
Executed in two selected facilities namely MASC Care Home for the Elderly, Abule Egba and Elderly Care Home, Maryland, the project involved the design and development of a low-maintenance and sustainable healing garden. The therapeutic gardens are nurtured by the seniors with each flower pot named after an individual resident.

With support from the Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer’s Society UK, and Global Brain Health Institute (GBHI), the project is implemented by Green Diamond-360 Enterprise, a social enterprise that promotes environmental and health consciousness through creativity and knowledge sharing.

The garden comprises flower pots of different species and vegetables alongside climbing plants that helped to project the green area of the facility. As part of efforts to ensure ownership and optimal garden use, the seniors and their caregivers participated in the garden development under the watch of the Bloom team. A series of weekly planting and painting sessions were organised over a period of two months.

Paintings on the flower pots were executed with assistance from the project artist volunteers who interacted with the older people while painting the vases.
Lucky Jet, an occupational therapist and Head of the Drug Unit at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Yaba during his talk on ‘The Benefits of Gardens in Caring for Older People’ emphasised the healing power of the garden. Asides reducing stress and anxiety, the garden can help to lower blood pressure, stimulate the senses, and improve the air quality among other things.

Modupe Agusto, CEO, Elderly Care Home, in her opening remarks thanked the STH team for the initiative.

“This is where we take care of the elderly and we provide them with activities in order to give them a comfortable life. Today, we are officially opening our beautiful garden and every one of our seniors has participated in the creation of this particular garden. They have really tried and they have been so supportive,’’ she declared.

The Project lead, Funmi Akindejoye who is a public health researcher and sustainability expert gave a general overview of the project and the theories behind the benefit of nature to mental health.

She remarked that in her research into the Biophilia Hypothesis Theory and Stress Reduction Theory, she gleaned that when people find themselves amidst nature, they are subconsciously directed away from stress. Hence, this brings about restorative effects to their mental wellbeing.

While reflecting on how the project started, Akindejoye revealed that the space constraint was not an obstacle.

“We had to figure out the space for the project. I looked at how I could make the space better with the help on the consultant Dr. Jumoke Kazeem. This project had a pilot in Ikorodu at a facility for the seniors. A therapeutic garden is the type of garden that is purposely built for the interaction of humans with the different elements of nature.

“There is a theory that holds that humans have the tendency to be attracted to nature. Nature tends to restore their attention. We talked about the availability of space. When we had the appraisal, we had a series of conversations with the management and we took note of everything. We also want to train caregivers or social therapy to take care of seniors and actually develop the garden itself. Nurture it because it is yours,’’ she declared.

The seniors were invited to take pictures inside the garden one after another while others listened and danced to music.