Articles
Virtual therapeutic horticulture – a social wellness program for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities
Article number
1330_8
Pages
55 – 62
Language
English
Abstract
Background: underlying medical conditions, the challenges of mask-wearing, and social distancing are among the reasons that many adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD) are at heightened risk of social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This paper outlines findings from a pilot program, which aimed to assess the feasibility of delivering a therapeutic horticulture program via a virtual platform with adults with I/DD, and to assess if virtual programming can meet social wellness goals for the I/DD population.
Program: 39 adults aged 24-74 who were enrolled in a local day habilitation program in Maryland and Northern Virginia participated in the virtual program.
Groups contained participants with similar level of function.
Participants joined a virtual class once a week for 60 min for 16 weeks.
The class was led by a registered horticultural therapist and a horticultural therapy intern.
Classes were multi-sensory and explored horticulture themes through gardening, floral design, art, music, dance, poetry and cooking demonstrations.
Once a month the participants received a kit to complete a hands-on activity.
Semi-structured interviews, which were visually supported by emoticons, were used to evaluate the program.
Transcripts were analyzed.
Conclusion: Participants were actively engaged and responded positively to the program.
A virtual platform is a feasible method of delivery for a therapeutic horticulture program and may provide an opportunity for enhanced social wellness for adults with I/DD. Implications: Many different modalities can successfully be utilized via a virtual platform including, gardening, floral design, art, music, dance, poetry and cooking.
Virtual programming can be used effectively for the I/DD community, which may widen the reach of many services in the future.
This paper outlines findings from a pilot program, which aimed to assess the feasibility of delivering a therapeutic horticulture program via a virtual platform with adults with I/DD, and to assess if virtual programming can meet social wellness goals for the I/DD population.
Program: 39 adults aged 24-74 who were enrolled in a local day habilitation program in Maryland and Northern Virginia participated in the virtual program.
Groups contained participants with similar level of function.
Participants joined a virtual class once a week for 60 min for 16 weeks.
The class was led by a registered horticultural therapist and a horticultural therapy intern.
Classes were multi-sensory and explored horticulture themes through gardening, floral design, art, music, dance, poetry and cooking demonstrations.
Once a month the participants received a kit to complete a hands-on activity.
Semi-structured interviews, which were visually supported by emoticons, were used to evaluate the program.
Transcripts were analyzed.
Conclusion: Participants were actively engaged and responded positively to the program.
A virtual platform is a feasible method of delivery for a therapeutic horticulture program and may provide an opportunity for enhanced social wellness for adults with I/DD. Implications: Many different modalities can successfully be utilized via a virtual platform including, gardening, floral design, art, music, dance, poetry and cooking.
Virtual programming can be used effectively for the I/DD community, which may widen the reach of many services in the future.
Authors
K. Ryzhikov
Keywords
therapeutic horticulture, horticultural therapy, intellectual disabilities, developmental disabilities, virtual programming, telehealth, social wellness, social isolation, loneliness, gardening
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