An hour in the life of a Horticultural Therapist
A regular HT program I run involves caring for our feathered friends in the garden. The goal is to provide age appropriate programming for older adults who live in a long term care residence, which will increase social interaction for the participants and stimulate lost memories. For many older adults watching bird life in the garden can be calming, joyful and uplifting, just to mention a few of the benefits. It can be done from the comfort of your home and for those with mobility challenges it’s a great way to maintain a connection to nature. To set the scene: I have cleaning materials...
Read MoreMy journey as a registered Horticultural Therapist.
I grew up on a farm in England and on leaving school trained as a registered nurse (RN). Having worked as an RN for many years in both England and Canada, I realized I needed a new career direction. On a busy surgical unit there just wasn’t enough time for me to work in accordance with my values. The vocation of nursing seemed to have changed. I wanted to reconnect with people and ultimately re-establish my connection to the land. After moving from Edmonton to Nanaimo ten years ago I began my search for a new career. I soon discovered Horticultural Therapy (HT), a formal practice that...
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