Lebanon County Edition
July 2014
Vol. 9 No. 7
Green-Thumb Therapy Horticultural Therapy Helps Seniors Grow Well-Being By Megan Joyce In horticulture therapy, a very tangible activity is used to create intangible healing. Much more than simply planting flowers, horticulture therapy is “the engagement of a participant in horticultural activities facilitated by a trained therapist to achieve specific and documented treatment goals,” according to the American Horticultural Therapy Association. Increasingly, this type of therapy is a highly effective practice for both seniors and adults with mobility challenges. Physically, the therapy strengthens muscles and boosts coordination, balance, and endurance. And when it comes to those improved intangibles, horticultural therapy has been shown to increase memory, cognitive abilities, task initiation, language skills, and socialization. Paula Swearingen, M.Ed. and owner of Floral Touch Horticultural Therapy and Floral Design, is a registered horticultural therapist who has seen the evidence firsthand. “Like most horticultural therapists, I came into this vocation as a secondary career path,” she said. Swearingen spent 17 years as a mental health and special education professional, working with children, youth, and adults with various disabilities. please see GREEN-THUMB page 12 Registered horticultural therapist Paula Swearingen, seated, often treats seniors and people with mobility issues using a ground garden or raised garden table, such as these offered by certified square-foot gardening instructor Joe Manotti, standing.
Inside:
How Reverse Mortgages Work in 2014 page 6
Lebanon County Senior Games page 11