When Brady Halls from A Current Affair visited Hardi Summer Hill on Tuesday, November 23, he discovered the therapeutical benefits of gardening for not only residents in aged care, but also those with disabilities.
Summer Hill resident, Lilly Lloyd, along with fellow residents Kathleen Smith, Toshiko Kishi and Patrick O’Connor featured in the story. Lilly talked about how much she missed her garden and how much the residents enjoy seeing the fruits of their hard work end up as part of the evening meal. Kathleen spoke about how she moved into aged care after having a stroke. The advantage of the Vegepods for her was their portability, and manageable height for those wishing to garden from the comfort of a chair.
According to an article by the Royal College of Physicians, there is increasing evidence to show that exposure to plants and green space, and particularly to gardening, is beneficial to mental and physical health. Therapeutic gardens have been used in hospitals for years and were strongly supported by Florence Nightingale as it was felt that they improved the surroundings for patients, visitors and staff. Other studies, emphasised the beneficial effects on stress.
So, why does gardening seem so beneficial to health?
It is because it combines physical activity with social interaction and exposure to nature and sunlight. Sunlight lowers blood pressure as well as increases vitamin D levels in the summer, and the fruit and vegetables that the gardens can produce have a positive impact on the diet – not to mention a great deal of personal satisfaction when you can literally see the fruits of your labour. Without saying much more, you can see why the new Vegepods are a winner with our residents!
To listen to the complete story, click on the link in the picture below.
