Green-fingered residents harvest home-grown produce

Green by name and by nature, a community of residents at one of our care homes in Birmingham have harvested their first home-grown produce, with fruits of their labour including lettuce, carrots, tomatoes, and cucumbers.

Residents with a passion for gardening have been growing and sowing fruit and vegetables indoors and out to create delicious meals in collaboration with the care home chefs.

Kelly Thompson, home manager said: "We know that the therapeutic benefits of gardening are vast, but tending to crops and watching them grow also fosters a real sense of achievement and purpose, which we know is important to feel enriched and fulfilled as we grow older.

“With many of our residents keen gardeners before moving into our home, we’ve seen this project reignite their former passions and memories, with our residents working together to grow their home-grown produce – ensuring they’ve been able to enjoy the fruits of their labour, of course!”

The gardening project has been introduced to empower residents to play an active role in their own care and the running of the home by embracing former pastimes and developing new skills, which in turn supports residents to feel a sense of purpose and belonging.

The initiative is based on academic research which has found that a sense of continuity, achievement and purpose is key to living an enriched later life.

Many studies have also shown that gardening therapy can improve the wellbeing of people living with dementia, encouraging social interaction, and evoking powerful memories.

For more about life at Bartley Green Lodge, or any of our other care homes, our Enquiry Support Team is here to talk on 0800 331 7424.