EFFECT OF HORTICULTURAL THERAPY ON THE COMMUNITY CONSCIOUSNESS AND LIFE SATISFACTION OF ELDERLY INDIVIDUALS

Abstract

This study was conducted to clarify the effect of horticultural therapy on the community consciousness and life satisfaction of elderly individuals with a history of living alone who are currently living in a facility for the elderly. The horticultural therapy (HT) program was implemented once a week for a total of 23 sessions from Apr. 14 through Sep. 27, 2001. The participants included 8 elderly individuals who lived in a group home which belongs to a Buddhist social welfare association located in Daegu, Korea. According to the results, HT was found to be effective in increasing the community consciousness and life satisfaction of these elderly individuals. After HT, the scores of community consciousness, life satisfaction, and horticultural activity evaluation were increased as compared to the levels found before HT. All items rated by the horticultural activity evaluation have been improved generally by HT, especially the scores for participation, interest and assistance, self-concept and identity, need-drive adaptation, cognition, and problem-solving. The participants showed various reactions to the plant materials used. They preferred fragrant materials such as lily and chrysanthemum, and flower colors of orange and violet. When these were used in HT, the elderly individual’s concentration during an activity and satisfaction after an activity improved. With these results, it is considered that the HT is effective in increasing the community consciousness, life satisfaction, and general activity level of the elderly in this situation, and it is important to develop more effective HT programs which are suitable for this group of individuals. INTRODUCTION With continual improvements in the standard of living and advances in the development of health care and medical treatment, people’s average life span continues to increase. Over decades, the implementation of continuous family planning has decreased the birth rate, greatly changing the population structure in Korea. The population of elderly individuals reached 7.1% of the total population of Korea in 2000, and is expected to grow to 13.2% in 2020, making Korea an aging society (The National Statistical Office, 1998). Although the population of older adults is increasing, the support structure for this population is weakening. The number of the older individuals living alone has reached 430,000, and for this reason providing support for problems for the elderly has become a major social issue (Shin, 1999). One of the approaches in community care is the use of small group homes for older people who are disabled or weakened. The elderly living in these facilities have difficulties such as clashes of interests, and changes in roles and private life caused by incorporation into group life after long period of living alone. This situation is further aggravated by a reduction in socialization caused by the loss of previous roles that frequently occurs with old age. This loss of roles or life meaning is one reason for conflict and dissatisfaction with life, as it aggravates feelings of fear and anxiety. This study was conducted to research the influence of horticultural therapy on the community consciousness and life satisfaction of the elderly in this situation. Proc. XXVI IHC – Horticulture, Human Well-Being and Life Quality