The Adult Day Center of Somerset County, a nonprofit agency committed to providing high-quality, affordable day care services to disabled and elderly residents of Somerset County, launched a horticultural therapy program last month.
The program was formed after the ADC received a grant from the Grotta Fund for Senior Care of the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater MetroWest NJ. The program is planned to last until June through the grant funding.
The ADC began the program by providing workshops to its members twice a month, building relationships with its community partners, educating staff and volunteers about the benefits of HT, and expanding and maintaining the ADC’s garden into a “therapy garden.”
ADC Executive Director Diann Robinson said, “Our goal is to provide activities that inspire and motivate our members. We are grateful to the Grotta Fund for their support of this pilot program that is allowing us to implement an additional professional therapy.”
Robinson explained that HT provides benefits on physical, emotional and social levels.
“Members will use their fine and gross motor skills when planting seeds or assembling different arrangements,” she said. “Gardening is a great way to relieve stress or feelings of anger or aggression. HT has social benefits because members have the chance to share their experiences.”
Laura DePrado, President of Final Touch Plantscaping, LLC in Branchburg, has been identified as ADC’s therapist, and staff member Nikki Hoffman will assist.
Published on myCentralJersey.com on 10/25/2014