Baycrest

Tending the garden nurtures the gardener S pring marks a time of renewal as the sun warms the soil and life pushes up from the earth. For many of us, we yearn to be a part of this reawakening by spending time in the garden. Gardens have long been recognized as a place of revitalization for body, mind and spirit. Even a simple stroll through the garden can have significant physical, emotional and cognitive health benefits. Gardens can help put us in touch with Earth's cycles, bringing us closer to our place in nature. For seniors in particular, gardens can be a place of rejuvenation. "There is nothing more rewarding then watching how a garden grows," says Karen Grauer, Recreation Therapist at Baycrest. "Research has found that when a person is connected to nature and has a chance to experience the sights, sounds, smells and touch of the outdoors, they feel better, more relaxed and in a better mood." Actively tending to a garden can be especially restorative. In addition to the spiritual and sensory aspects of the activity, gardening incorporates the physical as well. "Gardening is a very therapeutic activity, which is pleasurable and healthy for older people," says Grauer. "It is an enjoyable form of exercise… and just about anyone can dig, plant, prune and pull weeds," says Grauer. Working the earth with our hands provides rich sensory input. "Gardening not only gives us the opportunity to use fine and gross motor skills but cognitive skills as well," Grauer adds. In fact, the therapeutic benefits of gardening are substantial for individuals with dementia. Gardening is an opportunity to improve memory, attention and a sense of responsibility. It is a safe, pleasurable experience, an outlet for creativity that can enhance emotional well-being, reduce stress or anxiety levels and boost the self-esteem. Gardening is excellent exercise for body and brain health. "People are more alert, better able to learn and remember new things immediately after activities such as gardening,"explains Baycrest neuropsychologist, Dr. Susan Vandermorris. "Gardening combines physical exercise with cognitive engagement. If you add a social element by getting friends or family involved, you have the three lifestyle factors that together seem to be the magic bullet for optimizing brain health as we age." For more on this topic, visit: baycrest.org/garden "There's nothing more rewarding than watching how a garden grows." Some of the health benefits of gardening: • provides full-body movement • helps maintain a range of motion • increases muscle tone and mobility • boosts balance, co-ordination and gross motor skills • increases blood circulation • helps decrease anxiety and depression, improves mood • increases Vitamin D intake (when gardening outdoors) BrainMatters SPRING 2016 5

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