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Aging Well
'Doctor Plant'Feeling glum? Stressed? Uninspired? Dish some dirt and watch your spirits lift!“Working with plants is peaceful and en-grossing,” says internist (and lifelong gardener) Glenn Kratzer, M.D., of Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network. “It’s very satisfying to produce something edible or beautiful with your own hands.” But the power of plants goes even further than that. Since 1879, when a greenhouse was built for mentally ill patients at what is now Friends Hospital in Philadelphia, more and more health specialists have turned their patients on to plants for therapeutic benefits. For example, studies show that nursing home residents given the chance to care for plants are more alert and engaged. “When you’re in an environment you have little control over, responsibility for a living thing gives you a greater sense of autonomy and usefulness,” says horticultural therapist Elaine Tag of Phoebe Floral in Allentown. “The great thing about working with plants is that you don’t need a lot of strength, agility, education or talent. Almost anyone can do it.” You don’t even need dirt to relax with plants. Take a class in flower arranging. Make a collage from seeds and leaves. Press and frame ferns. Learn plant identification. Paint, draw or photograph flowers. Most important, take time to smell the roses.
Want to Know More? The Allentown Garden Club replenishes patients’ floral arrangements at Lehigh Valley Hospital— 17th and Chew and takes part in numerous horticultural activities. To learn more, click here. This page last updated 2/12/08 04:08 PM
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