Gardening has fantastic health benefits and with a bit of planning and a few modifications, Southern Cross Care's (NSW & ACT) Karinya residential aged care home in Corowa has made gardening a fun and safe hobby no matter your age.
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Lifestyle co-ordinator Donna Craig said the facility's garden beds are more than what meets the eye.
"It's a practical way to neaten up our garden space with no ground breaking involved," Donna said.
It gives brightness and life to our community and environment.
- Lifestyle co-ordinator Donna Craig
"The idea of garden bedding is it helps relieve stress, building a healthy lifestyle and increase sense of wellness by making people active. If done regularly, it helps improve the overall physical health and wellbeing."
The Karinya care home has been working with Corowa Community Garden and Howlong Nursery, which donated compost and plants for the residents to start their own garden with raised garden beds.
"Gardening can bring peace and happiness to residents who had spent much of their lives doing gardening of their own," Donna said.
"It provides a sense of accomplishment to the residents, showing them they can do something purposeful around the home.
"It shows in the enthusiasm residents have when they get the chance to show off their gardening work," said Donna.
The work in the garden has led to some residents reminiscing about the gardens they once had and their favourite type of flowers.
Wanting to bring a bit of that joy inside the home, staff and residents worked to collect roses from the gardens and get together any vases they had to fill the home to bursting with beautiful roses.
The roses were put all around the home and given to residents to keep in their rooms.
Just the sight and smell of the roses brought big smiles and memories.
"Family and residents' comment on how beautiful the flowerbeds, herb gardens and vegetable patches are looking with so many bright different colours," Donna said. "It gives brightness and life to our community and environment."
Donna does her job and lives her life to the motto "I choose joy". It guides her in her work to create moments that will bring a bit more joy into the lives of her residents.
Donna is proud to see the activities making such a positive change in the behaviour of the residents and the garden has been a great way to form connections over experiences and conversations.
