Gardening in Senior Communities: Investigating Accessibility and Barriers, A Case Study
Date
2023-08
Authors
Young, Alexandra
Major Professor
Haynes, Cynthia
Advisor
Committee Member
Gilligan, Megan
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Abstract
Gardening creates a place for older adults to socialize, to build community, to learn, to teach, to
share and to exercise. The garden is a space of growth and opportunity and properly supported,
it is a powerful tool for strengthening the well-being of older adults. Because, in the words of a
greek proverb, ‘society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they will never
know’, it benefits us all to recognize and develop the opportunities for older adults to garden as
they age. The first person perspectives shared in this study highlight the value gardening can bring to the
lives of older adults living in senior living communities. These gardeners demonstrated the ways
their gardening protected them from detrimental isolation, gave them spaces to test their
abilities and share their expertise and things to look forward to and laugh about.
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creative component
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Copyright
2023