An interview with Dr. Spodak on CBS12
Dread going to the dentist? Spodak Dental Group has listened to and acted on a large body of research that shows that nature and positive distractions reduce stress and improves health outcomes by creating a living work of art for and around their expansive dental clinic. Studio Sprout designed a variety of garden experiences, specified and tagged native …
There is an exponential growth of chronic diseases, especially in the elderly(1). As the Dr.Howard Koh and Dr.Anand Parekh explain, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is re-thinking ways to treat chronic disease and launching innovative care delivery models. How all this can be related to the presence of gardens in healthcare settings? Simply …
Research shows that gardening activities and spending time in therapeutic gardens have the potential to reduce the risk of developing dementia and improve the quality of life of persons with dementia. Challenging activities that require fluid thought processing combined with moderate physical activity are more likely to enhance cognitive functioning than routine activities 1. Analysis of a …
Stress experienced during depression paired with the neurological changes that naturally occur during the aging process may accelerate the loss of function and cognition resulting in a declining ability to live independently. A body of research indicating that exercise, exposure to nature and reflection may be effective in reducing the symptoms of depression informed the …
Creating outdoor settings for social support These were the opening words of Total Fitness in the 21st Century Conference at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. The conference participants defined “total fitness” and began to identify the quantifiable measures that would help unit commanders to create environments that would promote that total fitness. …
The ground breaking for the new home for Spodak Dental Group took place on Friday, November 9. The building design by Michael Singer Studios and Richard A Jones Architects will be a LEED certified project. Most great projects are the result of a great client; Dr. Spodak has taken great pains to make sure that …
Studies indicate that older adults highly value contact with plants and natural environments 1 and interest in nature may increase with age 2. Research findings of residents at nursing facilities showed that desire to participate far exceeded actual participation in horticulture activities, suggesting that appropriate environments or programming may not have been available 3.
To be motivating and interesting and to encourage optimal performance, therapy is most effective if it is designed to meet each patient’s needs 4. Predictable environments where preferred activities can take place provide feedback necessary to correct motor behaviors and enables patients to engage in graded challenges to improve skills 5.
Studio Sprout has been honored with an award of excellence by the Florida Nurserymen and Growers Association for the design of the Jacqueline Fiske Garden of Hope at the Jupiter Medical Center. The garden was the site of a pilot study done by co-investigators Dr. Ruth McCaffrey of Florida Atlantic University, School of Nursing, Lorraine …
Among the elderly, depression is a major health problem. The rate of depression among healthy older adults in the United States is about 15%, with the number rising to 25% for those with chronic illnesses 1. The rates of depression for residents in elder care facilities is even higher, rising to 44% when factoring in all levels of symptoms 2. Depression negatively impacts quality of life, exacerbates existing diseases and cognitive disorders, increases health costs, and in the case of major depression, increases rates of mortality 1.
Research suggests that simply visiting a garden and observing nature enhances the emotional well-being of residents with depression who are living in nursing homes 3. Another study showed that a regular program of walking in a garden setting alleviates symptoms of depression.