Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the effect of types of horticultural activities among elderly individuals in a senior citizen learning camp. We arranged four horticultural activities: Grass Doll, Kokedama, Rocky Leaf Prints, and Herb Tasting and Smelling. Twenty-seven senior citizens (60 to 76 years) were recruited to participate. We assessed their physiological and mental state before and after the activities by measuring heart rate variability (HRV), pulse rate, blood pressure, salivary amylase activity (SAA), and Profile of Mood States (POMS). Results showed that SAA was significantly lower after the Rocky Leaf Prints, Herb Tasting and Smelling, and Kokedama. Pulse rate had a downward trend after the four horticultural activities. The ratio of low frequency (LF) over high frequency (HF) results showed that the Rocky Leaf Prints had a larger downward trend, followed by Herb Tasting and Smelling. POMS scores indicated significant improvement for Rocky Leaf Prints and Herb Tasting and Smelling. The types including artistic creation and food tasting were promising methods for psychological relaxation, stress reduction, and vigor enhancement for elderly persons. Findings showed that the impact of activities involving contact with plants was more significant in short-term activities. We hope this study can help plan the horticultural activities of the elderly in the future.
Highlights
Considering the advancement of medical technology and declining birthrates, an aging population structure society has become a widespread phenomenon in developed countries around the world.The issues faced by an aged society are getting more attention from the government and the population.Taiwan became an aged society in March 2018 [1]
The results for salivary amylase activity (SAA) were significantly decreased after the activities of Rocky Leaf Prints (p < 0.05), Herb Tasting and Smelling (p < 0.05), and Kokedama (p < 0.001)
The results indicated that low frequency (LF)/high frequency (HF) was the highest during the pretest
Summary
Considering the advancement of medical technology and declining birthrates, an aging population structure society has become a widespread phenomenon in developed countries around the world.The issues faced by an aged society are getting more attention from the government and the population.Taiwan became an aged society in March 2018 [1]. According to a report in 2015, by the Ministry of Health and Welfare of Taiwan, the healthy or subhealthy accounted for 83.5% of the elderly population in Taiwan and the disabled account for. As the elderly population ages they must face the decline of physiological function and cognitive function, which leads to the negative impact of their physiological, psychological, and social functions [3,4,5,6]. Studies have indicated that elders who contact nature or plants or engage in horticultural activities could maintain health, delay aging, and improve the benefits of physical, psychological, cognitive, and social functions [3,5,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16]. One study revealed that investing in the development of disease prevention can save significant costs, as each
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