The Effect of a Horticultural Activities Program for the Community Elderly

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a horticultural activities program for the community elderly. Methods: The community elderly were invited to participate in a 6-week horticultural activities program. The Intervention groups contained seven participants (3 women and 4 men ; mean age, 69 years). In the participants, demographic data, including age, gender, and experience of horticultural activity were collected, in addition to information relevant to the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15), the Activities of Daily Living (ADL-20) scale, quality of life (QOL), and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), before and after the intervention. Results: Regarding QOL, the participants exhibited a significant improvement in “satisfaction with life” after the intervention (P < 0.05). Regarding GDS-15 score, the participants exhibited a significant decrease after the intervention (P < 0.05). ADL-20, and MMSE scores remained unchanged after the intervention in both groups. Conclusions: Participation in horticultural activities reduced depression and increased life satisfaction in elderly residents of the community elderly. However, the number of participants in this study was small, and it was not a randomized controlled trial. Further studies are warranted to completely elucidate the effects of horticultural activities on the psychologic, physical, and cognitive function and QOL of elderly people.