3 minute read
Flourish Magazine - Winter 2024
GREEN THUMBS & HAPPY HEARTS
Residents at UnitingSA’s Westminster Village Aged Care home are putting their green thumbs to good use as part of new gardening group. The Westminster Green Thumbs Garden Group gather together weekly in one of Westminster’s beautiful courtyard gardens.
Here they enjoy the company of each other and share the love of gardening. Jacqui Bishop, who leads the group, works as an Executive Assistant at UnitingSA’s head office in Dale Street, Port Adelaide. She volunteers at Westminster Village every Saturday.
“When I learnt that so many of the residents once had beautiful home gardens that they missed being in, I wanted them to have that experience again,” Ms Bishop says.
“Residents actively participate, as much as they can or wish to. Everyone is welcome to get involved in the activity, even if it is to just come along to sit and observe the activities or have a chat.”
So far the group has created glass terrariums, painted succulent pots, and made birdseed feeders, dried flower pictures and flower lanterns. Two vertical wall gardens were also created by the group, and six more are in the process of being installed, with residents helping to pot up plants.
Jacqui has studied horticultural therapy and believes gardening is one of the most beneficial and positive activities to have in a residential aged care home.
“Gardening and gardening-related activities create opportunities for increased physical activity, social connectivity through the group activities, and it enhances psychological wellbeing through a reduction of stress and emotional regulation,” she says.
“It also provides a sense of purpose and accomplishment for those residents living with dementia.
“Increasingly, medical evidence is proving that incorporating gardening activities into residents’ lives contributes to better quality of life outcomes as they age.”
Jacqui is inviting other volunteers to join the Westminster Green Thumbs Garden Group.
“We are always looking for volunteers for the garden group. By having the group on a Saturday it also allows those who work full time, like myself, and want to volunteer on a regular basis to have that opportunity, every Saturday or even just once a month.”
There is no experience necessary. Just that you have an interest in gardening, and able to assist the residents with a simple garden-related activity. We would love to hear from you.
- JACQUI
To find out more, contact UnitingSA’s Lifestyle Manager Renee Farrell at unitingSA@unitingsa.com.au or (08) 8440 2200.
