RESEARCH

Horticultural Therapy in Greenery Design. Example of the “Światło” Hospice in Toruń

Horticultural therapy is integrated into urban greenery design, creating sensory gardens that improve well-being, particularly in healthcare settings like hospices.

Program Types: Therapeutic

Population Groups: Older Adults/Seniors

Setting or Context: Healthcare Centre

Health and Wellness Outcomes: Enhanced Emotional Well-being, Improved Stress Management, Sensory Stimulation

Allied Profession Intersections: Landscape Design

Type of Activity: Sensory Stimulation, Indoor Plant Care

Evidence Type: Peer-Reviewed Studies, Case Studies

Measurement and Evaluation: Patient-Reported Outcomes

Access: Free

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Summary

A study on horticultural therapy in greenery design highlights its therapeutic benefits and practical application in a sensory garden at the “Światło” hospice in Toruń, Poland. The garden was designed to stimulate patients’ senses through taste, smell, touch, sight, and sound, enhancing both physical and mental well-being.

The garden includes selected plant species that offer calming scents, engaging textures, and edible elements, as well as accessible paths, seating, and water features. The study emphasizes how horticultural therapy can be integrated into urban spaces such as vertical gardens, roof gardens, and pocket parks, offering therapeutic and environmental benefits

Link

ISHS Acta Horticulturae 1246: XIII International People Plant Symposium: Plants, Cultures and Healthy Communities. (2019). Gardens in health care: healing gardens, therapeutic gardens, and horticultural therapy gardens. Actahort.org

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