Success StoryHoritculture Therapy at Local Nursing Home



Horitculture Therapy at Local Nursing Home

Author: Laura Maggard

Planning Unit: Lawrence County CES

Major Program: Community Gardens and Horticulture Therapy

Plan of Work: Enhance the Strong Agicultural and Natural Resource Base

Outcome: Intermediate Outcome

The Lawrence County Health Department, JJ Jordans Geriatric Center, and the Lawrence County Extension Office applied for a $10,000 community garden grant specifically to be utilized at the local nursing home. The grant was award and all parties quickly got to work. All 3 parties met to discuss what exactly the goal was of the community gardens, staff at JJ Jordans said that during the pandemic residents became agitated and confused over not recieving visitors and the other regulations that were involved. They decided then that the residents needed an outlet that they could utilize outdoors to keep them active and busy. Several long term patients vocalized that they enjoyed working in the garden and missed having the opportunity. It was decided then that JJ Jordans needed some ADA raised beds. The health department then contacted the Agriculture and Natural Resource (ANR) Extension Agent to share their expertise. The ANR Extension Agent contacted fellow agents to see what they had done in their communities to bounce ideas off of them. She also got in contact with staff at the Unversity of Kentucky with the KY AgrAbility Program for blue prints on handicap accessible beds. The Extension Agent worked with the staff at the nursing home to construct the beds and plant fruits and vegetables for the residents. JJ Jordans now has 4 raised beds and a 10ft x 12 ft greenhouse where residents can start their own seeds and over winter their plants. Working in flower and vegetable beds is very therapeutic for nursing home patients. It gets them outside in the fresh air while getting low impact exercise. Gardening also gives individuals a sense of purpose and something to look forward to. One particular patient suffers from dementia and can get violent. The director at the nursing home voiced his concerns to the Extension Agent and said he felt that they only thing that could really keep this patient calm and relaxed was gardening. This particular patient has farmed and gardened his whole life so not having that outlet has really been detrimental to him. We believe these gardens will be a stress reliever for these patients and give them something to look forward to.






Stories by Laura Maggard


Incubating Chicks

Incubating Chicks

about 2 years ago by Laura Maggard

The Lawrence County Agriculture and Natural Resource (ANR) Extension Agent partnered with Lawrence C... Read More


Holiday Wreath Making

Holiday Wreath Making

about 2 years ago by Laura Maggard

The Lawrence County Agriculture and Natural Resource (ANR) Extension Agent and the Lawrence County M... Read More


Stories by Lawrence County CES


Incubating Chicks

Incubating Chicks

about 2 years ago by Laura Maggard

The Lawrence County Agriculture and Natural Resource (ANR) Extension Agent partnered with Lawrence C... Read More


Diabetes Educational Drive Thru and Virtual Workshop

Diabetes Educational Drive Thru and Virtual Workshop

about 2 years ago by Alivia Faris

The Lawrence County Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) collaborated with communi... Read More


Stories by Community Gardens and Horticulture Therapy


All New To Me!! Recovering addicts see new pathways in gardening!!

All New To Me!! Recovering addicts see new pathways in gardening!!

about 2 years ago by Laura Rogers

Classes teaching the technique of planting and producing vegetables at Sky Hope Recovery Center, Pul... Read More


Urban Farm Summer School

Urban Farm Summer School

about 3 years ago by Stephen Lewis

The idea of attending summer school used to be a dreaded thought amongst school students, but to thi... Read More