BDN reports on success of garden research project for older adults
The Bangor Daily News reported on a University of Maine research project that aimed to determine whether residents at two senior housing facilities could successfully grow fresh produce, and whether the physical activity, mental stimulation and ready availability of vegetables would lead to an improvement in their diets and overall well-being. At the end of May, 13 raised garden beds were delivered to two Brewer Housing Authority facilities, with about a dozen residents agreeing to participate in the program led by Kelley Strout, an assistant professor of nursing at UMaine. Funded with about $7,000 from the University of Maine Aging Initiative, with additional support from Bangor Greendrinks, the project provided seniors, many of whom are lifelong gardeners, with the opportunity to get their hands back in the dirt, according to the article. Last spring, the participants completed a baseline assessment of their health status, emotional and cognitive functions, and nutritional intake, conducted by students from the nursing and nutrition programs at UMaine, the article states. As the growing season wraps up, Strout said, the gardeners will update their information, allowing the researchers to measure the impact of the project. She said although the three-month trial is unlikely to yield significant data, she expects to see measurable improvements in diet, health and physical activity over time. Strout has applied for external funding to continue and expand the project, with a long-term goal of introducing raised-bed gardening to seniors across the state, the BDN reported. “So much of their time is typically tied up with doctors appointments and figuring out transportation,” she said. “But this project has brought them together in a shared activity, and they’ve made friends with each other.” Gardening expertise for the project was provided by John Jemison, a soil and water quality specialist with UMaine Cooperative Extension.