Therapeutic

use of
Horticulture
in
Occupation
al Therapy

Learning
for this
lesson:
Understand
andoutcomes
articulate
OTs
unique role

and philosophy in horticultural therapies

Define terms related to horticulture

Explain precautions related to horticultural

therapies

Identify types of client factors,

performance skill deficits and diagnosis
that would benefit from horticultural
therapy

 1.

The benefits of horticulture in OT

therapy
2. Ideas of how to incorporate horticulture
in geriatric treatments
3. Ideas of how to incorporate horticulture
in pediatric treatments
4. Propagating plants, seeds, bulbs,
terrariums, houseplants, etc.

Horticultural Therapy

Horticultural Therapy (HT) is the engagement of a person in

gardening related activities, facilitated by a trained therapist, to
achieve specific treatment goals. During HT, plants, gardens, and
natural landscapes are utilized to engage and improve cognitive,
physical, social, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing. In short HT
helps people of various ages and abilities to experience garden
related activities. HT helps individuals with special needs to learn,
play and strengthen body and mind.

By Natasha Etherington, HT

Therapy
It

and rehabilitation

can be part of a persons rehabilitation process, to help

them recover and 'find their feet again' after an illness or a

difficult time in their lives
It

can help people recover from a wide range of conditions

It

can help people to learn new skills

Can

help slow down the deterioration seen when someone

has a degenerative illness.

I can't think of a single area of practice

where horticulture couldn't be relevant
(except neonatology). Plants can be very
therapeutic, and horticultural activities are so
broad in application that they lend
themselves widely to adaptation. They range
in physical demand from the lowest to the
highest of physicality and can be structured to
meet any kind of cognitive demand.
Estelle B. Breines, PhD, OTR, FAOTA

Clients that have deficits in;

Motor

skills

Process
Social

skills

interaction skills

Cognitive
Sensory

skills

stimulation

Emotional

regulation skills

Motor skills
Fine motor skills
Gross

motor skills

Standing/balance
Endurance
Mobility
ROM
Strength

Sowing seeds

Motor skills

Fine

motor skills

Gross

motor skills

Standing/balance
Endurance
Mobility
ROM
Strength

Donna Terry's Occupational Therapy Garden Box Project.mp4

Other areas:
Speech and vocabularyhorticultural magazines
Memory/ dementia

Therapeutic gardening helps residents with dementia.mp4

Learning new skills

Sequencing
Following directions
Problem solving
Attention to task
Providing sensory stimulationsensory gardens
Emotional regulation in group settings
Interpersonal/social skills

Horticultural Therapy_Partial.mp4

Useful tools and adaptations

Adapting Tools

Pediatric Horticulture
Increase language skills
Social interaction
Fine motor skills
Gross motor skills
Hand-eye coordination
Muscle strength
ROM
Balance and perception
Increase activity tolerance
Exploration
Sensory input

Horticultural Therapy - NJN News Healthwatch Report.mp4

Sensory
Gardens

Sensory
Gardens

Tactile
Vision

Auditory
Olfactory
Gustatory
Vestibular
Proprioceptive

Safety and Precautions

Make

safety your first priority

Avoid poisonous plants
Prevent fall risks
Sunscreen and hats
Watch for heatstroke and dehydration
Warm up exercises
Children with special needs

Propagating plants

References

http://www.jkp.com/jkpblog/2012/03/interview-natasha-etheringtongardening-for-children-with-autism-spectrum-disorders-and-specialeducational-needs/
http://www.fix.com/blog/health-benefits-of-gardening /
http://www.carryongardening.org.uk/
http://
www.thrive.org.uk/Files/Documents/Gardening_for_Hearts_and_Minds.p
df
http://cru.cahe.wsu.edu/CEPublications/misc0545/misc0545.pdf
http://www.planetnatural.com/sensory-gardens /
http://lemonlimeadventures.com/sensory-benefits-gardening-with-kids /
http://
occupational-therapy.advanceweb.com/Article/Propagating-Plants.aspx
http://ahta.org /
http://www.carryongardening.org.uk/thrive.aspx
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-KgKupZ9fE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obIhqVdi40I
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Knq5VTh9AoI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_hvKZv4ViE
http://disabilityworktools.com /
http://
www.hgtvgardens.com/garden-basics/accessible-gardening-techniques