“Memories blossom and depression buries”… ‘Popular’ vegetable gardens for the elderly
Posted: 2024-05-08 15:27:08
Reporter Na Woong-gi wonggy@busan.com
Busan Buk-gu Office, program for the elderly including those at risk of dementia
Approximately 120 people participated… Effect of improving test results on the depression scale
“Killing two birds with one stone” by building a site where an empty house has been demolished and using the land
On March 8, seniors registered at the Dementia Relief Center in Buk-gu, Busan, participate in the “Cultivating a Garden Where Memories Bloom” program in Gupo-dong, Buk-gu. Provided by Busan Buk-gu office
As a result of the gardening activity carried out by the Busan Buk-gu Office for the elderly at risk of dementia or suffering from depression, it was found that most of the participants overcame their depression and regained their vitality in life.
According to the Busan Buk-gu Office on the 8th, following a depression scale test conducted on 26 elderly people aged 60 or over who participated in the “Gardening Where Memories Bloom” program at least 5 times, the index of depression decreased from an average of 7.0 points before participating in the program to an average of 3.5 points. The depression index has a total of 15 points, and a score of 8 is the depression index that requires professional counseling. Most of those who participated in the program responded that their lives had changed positively, including their vitality. Program participants include people aged 60 and older in Buk-gu, members of mental health care centers suffering from depression, and older adults at risk for dementia.
“Cultivating a Garden Where Memories Bloom” is a program run by the Buk-gu Dementia Relief Center in June last year to prevent dementia among the region’s elderly. The garden, located in Gupo-dong, measures approximately 100㎡ and used the space that had been empty for a long time.
The Buk-gu Dementia Relief Center has started a program to help seniors worried about depression or at risk of dementia escape depression and isolation by getting them outdoors into the sunshine. The program focuses on outdoor activities such as gardening, making flower pots to share and gymnastics. After gardening we also recite poetry and do music therapy, sharing our experiences and emotions. It ran for an hour twice a week for two months. Staff from the dementia relief center and rehabilitation treatment teams from the nursing hospital will serve as instructors. So far, 121 people have participated in the program.
The Buk-gu Office’s gardening program is assessed as killing two birds with one stone by using empty houses, which are considered a chronic disease in the community, and providing emotional stability to elderly people at risk of dementia. Gardening participants expressed satisfaction that their lives were positively changed through active outdoor pursuits and communication with neighbors. One participant said, “The process of taking a bus to go to the garden to plant and care for flowers to participate in the program was a great help in preventing dementia and improving vitality.”
We are evaluating whether gardening for the elderly in the city center will establish itself as a new welfare policy for the community. In Busan, which has entered a very aging society, the number of dementia patients is likely to increase with the increase of the elderly population, and there are many voices calling for urgent care and management for them. According to the City of Busan, the number of dementia patients aged 60 years and older living in Busan is estimated at 72,136 as of December last year. This is approximately 6.9% of the population aged 60 and over living in Busan.
An official from the Buk-gu Dementia Relief Center said: “When interviewing gardening program participants, there was a notable positive change compared to before participating in the program, and satisfaction was high. He added: “We are discussing plans” for the gardening program in the second half of the year.”
Reporter Na Woong-gi wonggy@busan.com
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