Residents of Carillon, a senior living community at Bellevue Station, received the Seniors Award for Happiest Indoor Plant Garden in the United States. Competing among more than 70 senior living communities across the country, the garden, built and maintained by Carillon residents, has been recognized for its beauty, quality results and community involvement.
Eldergrow offers innovative indoor therapeutic gardening programs for senior living communities. The DIY Culinary Herb Program connects senior community residents to nature and provides sensory stimulation with fresh herbs. The indoor planting box system allows you to choose plants, vegetables, starters and other inhabitants. The ElderGrow program uses a large wooden planting structure with a soil basin and grow light to allow the community to plant, maintain and grow the plants themselves.
“This has been a wonderful program for our residents. Not only are they growing, but they’ve benefited from the ongoing activities to use the produce they’ve grown. We’re excited to see their efforts rewarded,” said Shannon Dionez, Carillon at Bellevue Station Executive Director.
“Old men grow the garden, and the garden grows the old,” said one city resident during the award announcement.
A recent study conducted by CU Boulder’s Environmental Studies Department on the effects of community gardening found that it has many benefits for those who participate, from nutrition to exercise, as well as reduced stress and anxiety.
The Elderly Program provides communities with ’round the world’ culinary activities that have many health benefits. Research shows that horticultural therapy has many positive effects on the elderly, including reduced depression, improved balance and coordination, and a 36% reduction in risk factors for dementia.
Eldergrow is also pleased to partner with Carillon at Bellevue Station.
“This community is full of compassion and the staff and residents do an amazing job of tending to the plants in their gardens,” said Kim Obert, Senior Community Success Manager. “This is simply a reflection of the care that the staff give to their residents because if you have a healthy garden, you know you have a healthy community.”
* University of Washington, 2014
About Eldergrow
In the year Founded in 2015, Eldergrow improves the quality of life of older adults through innovative, therapeutic gardening programs that create meaningful connections with nature. The DIY Culinary Herb Garden includes fresh plant supplies and an engaging ‘Around the World’ program. The Therapeutic Horticulture Garden Program is a wellness program facilitated by geriatric educators who teach horticulture and garden care for the disabled. Each of the programs is centered around indoor, mobile homes for veterans and adults with disabilities in Washington. For more information, visit www.Eldergrow.org