The Design and Development of an Adapted Therapeutic Garden to Improve Occupational Performance in Older Adults
Graduation Date
2009
Document Type
Master's Thesis
Document Form
Degree Name
Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy
Department
Occupational Therapy
Department or Program Chair
Ruth Ramsey, EdD, OTR/L
Thesis Advisor
Ruth Ramsey, EdD, OTR/L
Second Advisor
Bonnie Napier, EdD, OTR/L
Abstract
Gardens promote healthy living and encourage individual well-being by increasing quality of life through engagement in a personally meaningful occupation. Adapted outdoor environments such as gardens can increase the overall physical and mental health, social contact, cooperation, and self-assurance of residents of nursing facilities. The purpose of this project was to create a safe and adapted outdoor environment for the pursuit of gardening at Petaluma Care and Rehabilitation Center (PCRC), a residential nursing care facility for older adults. The goal for this project was to construct adaptive garden beds for PCRC to provide the residents an environment to promote overall increased occupational performance. An appropriate design was chosen based upon a review of the literature and the needs of the facility. Two elevated garden beds were then constructed and planted for resident use. The adapted environment provided PCRC the option of incorporating the modified occupation of gardening into the residents’ activities of daily living to increase their health.