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.