The perspectives of elderly residents in nursing home on gardening activities: a qualitative study

OBJECTIVE: This research was conducted to explore in depth the physical, psychological and social effects of gardening activities on elderly individuals residing in a nursing home. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A descriptive qualitative research design was employed in the study with a purposive sampling method to select participants. The research was conducted with 21 elderly residents in a nursing home located in the eastern region of Turkey and participated in gardening activities. The data of the research were collected using the Participant Introduction Form and the Semi-Structured Interview Form. Content analysis was conducted to analyze the data. RESULTS: In the study, the elderly participants shared their views on gardening activities, which were categorised into three main themes as physical, psychological, and social impacts. Regarding the physical impacts, participants noted that gardening activities enhance and promote physical mobility. They described several psychological benefits of gardening activities. In the emotional dimension, they reported feelings of happiness, enjoyment, relaxation, and a sense of achievement and satisfaction while they highlighted experiences of reminiscence, cognitive stimulation, being in the present and a deeper connection with nature in the cognitive dimension. Participants also stated that gardening activities led to increased interpersonal interactions, enhanced communication, and strengthened social bonding, reflecting the positive social impacts of these activities. CONCLUSION: Elderly residents in the nursing home reported experiencing positive physical, psychological, and social impacts from gardening activities. Based on these findings, it is recommended to incorporate gardening activities as a strategy for promoting active ageing among elderly individuals in institutional care settings.